My Reflections by Dr. Mike Ghouse
Welcome to My Reflections, a personal journal by Dr. Mike Ghouse — founder of InterfaithMarriages.org and lifelong advocate for pluralism, harmony, and understanding among all faiths.
Through these reflections, Dr. Ghouse shares moments from the weddings he officiates, his thoughts on love that transcends religion, and experiences that celebrate the beauty of our shared humanity. Each note captures a story — a smile, a prayer, a union — that reminds us that love is universal and faith is deeply personal.
Over the years, Dr. Ghouse has had the honor of uniting hundreds of interfaith and intercultural couples from around the world. His reflections here are more than words — they are glimpses into real lives where compassion triumphs over difference, and where two traditions meet in mutual respect.
In a world often divided by belief, My Reflections stands as a gentle reminder that pluralism is not about converting others, but about understanding them. Each post is a window into how faiths can come together — not in conflict, but in celebration of the divine diversity within us all.
581st Wedding: Marriage in Toronto
Sunday, October 26, 2025, Toronto, Canada. Today, I officiated my 581st interfaith marriage in Canada. It has become a familiar part of my life. The flight was quick —I was on and off the plane in just an hour and a half. Unless I’m traveling to the West Coast, from Vancouver to San Diego, and everywhere in between, I usually fly in and out on the same day.
I was excited when I saw the wedding hall setup. There were about seven round tables on each side, and right in the center was a flower screen where the bride and groom would sit facing each other. There was also a spot for me to stand or sit. It was one of the best arrangements I’ve seen. I could face both the bride and groom, with my back to the wall instead of the guests. I even took a video to use as an example for future weddings.
The flower screen is an old tradition among some Hindu and Muslim families. A long time ago, marriages were arranged, and the bride and groom did not meet until the wedding. In the old days, they used a designer cloth screen that came off when the baraat (groom’s party) arrived; the groom was teased with questions or a ransom was demanded, upon which he got to see the bride for the first time. The other option is “Mu Dikhaee,” which is when the couple accepts each other as husband and wife, uttering the word Qabool (I do), and the groom lifts the veil of the bride through a mirror and sees her for the first time.
But the new trend among Muslims is that the groom will walk through the screen upon saying ‘Qabool’.
Every wedding is planned with the couple in mind, respecting their cultures, religions, and preferences. I always encourage them to include some traditions their parents value. After all, a wedding brings together not just the bride and groom, but also their families and friends.
Fatima & Mike Ghouse
The flower screen is an old tradition among some Hindu and Muslim families. A long time ago, marriages were arranged, and the bride and groom did not meet until the wedding. In the old days, they used a designer cloth screen that came off when the baraat (groom’s party) arrived; the groom was teased with questions or a ransom was demanded, upon which he got to see the bride for the first time. The other option is “Mu Dikhaee,” which is when the couple accepts each other as husband and wife, uttering the word Qabool (I do), and the groom lifts the veil of the bride through a mirror and sees her for the first time.
But the new trend among Muslims is that the groom will walk through the screen upon saying ‘Qabool’.
Every wedding is planned with the couple in mind, respecting their cultures, religions, and preferences. I always encourage them to include some traditions their parents value. After all, a wedding brings together not just the bride and groom, but also their families and friends.
Fatima & Mike Ghouse
580th Wedding: It's Philadelphia for the 7th time
It’s Philadelphia for the 7th time and the 20th wedding in Pennsylvania. Fatima and I enjoyed traveling on the train.
Unlike many other weddings where the clergy recites scriptures in Arabic, Sanskrit, or Latin, I ensure everyone understands the ceremony. Every word from Arabic or Sanskrit is translated and explained in English, making the ceremony accessible to all while respecting religious traditions.
I enjoy writing the full script to include the values and traditions of the couple’s faiths and cultures. It is a union of the couple, families, and friends. The couple and I revise the script to reflect both families’ values. In the end, it is what the couple and families want.
I love this bride. Over the past two years, we have worked together, and she has made over 10 changes, even on the train. I usually do not print updates; instead, I handwrite additions and changes. When I entered the hall, the bride’s mother was waiting for me. We reviewed the ceremony together. She said she had read the script but wanted to add more, and they were good suggestions that I incorporated in the last minute.
During the ceremony, I watch the bride, groom, and their parents to understand their nonverbal cues. My goal is for everyone to enjoy the ceremony.
Fatima & Mike Ghouse
579th Wedding: Timeless Quran
The timeless Quran encourages individuals to live in the present and guides them to see the universe as a unified whole when its verses are interpreted in today’s context. I have witnessed this transformation repeatedly with nearly 300 Muslim families out of the 650 families I have spoken with. These families range from conservative parents to Sharia teachers, including those from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Egypt, Syria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, Yemen, Cambodia, Indonesia, and other nations of the world.
They agree that the Quran is about progressive values aimed at fostering cohesive societies. Most of them recognize that it does not prohibit their children from marrying non-Muslims. It is God who instills love between two souls from among the 8.5 billion of us, so that individuals can come together and live in tranquility, peace, and harmony.
Alhamdulillah—praise the Lord for His blessings, as He makes extraordinary things happen. I am grateful to be an instrument in opening people’s hearts and minds to one another, fostering harmony and tranquility.
Today, I officiated my 579th interfaith wedding in Raleigh, North Carolina. Of the 579 weddings, 193 are Christian-Muslim unions, 185 are Hindu-Muslim marriages, 67 are Nikahs between two Muslims, 33 are Jewish-Muslim marriages, 17 are Sikh-Muslim marriages, 9 Buddhist marriages, and there are other combinations such as Hindu-Christian, Hindu-Jewish, Jewish-Christian, and those with no particular faith. Thus far, we have celebrated weddings among 80 ethnicities, 11 religions, and all races.
578th Wedding: Flower Screen
Flower screens at weddings where one of the spouses is Muslim are becoming increasingly common, with approximately every fourth wedding now featuring this element. This trend was not prominent before COVID-19, but since Amazon introduced affordable silk flower options, many couples have started opting for it.
Historically, marriages were often arranged, and the bride and groom would see each other for the first time on their wedding day. The tradition of using a screen between them during the ceremony allows for a dramatic reveal when the screen is removed to celebrate their union.
This was the best setup, I was facing the couple with my back to the audience. It was a narrow hall with the couple and me in the center.
Mike Ghouse
Weddings at Lincoln Memorial 576 weddings between 11 faiths, 80 ethnicities, all races, across America and Canada, and destination weddings.
MY DREAM WEDDING
One of the grooms wrote, “Thank you so much. The ceremony was wonderful, and it really meant something to me, which says a lot because I’m not religious.”
During the 475th and 476th weddings I officiated in Chicago over the weekend, the couples chose to have full interfaith ceremonies that honored their diverse traditions.
The 476th ceremony was a beautiful blend of Jewish, Muslim, and Hindu traditions. I feel truly blessed that couples trust me to perform multi-faith, interfaith, inter-ethnic, and interracial weddings.
The 15th multi-faith (5 Faiths) wedding I conducted took place in New York, incorporating values from Jewish, Sikh, Muslim, Hindu, and Christian faiths. This represents my dream wedding—a celebration of pluralism that respects all religions and people, allowing everyone to walk away with an appreciation for different traditions.
I enjoy leading a 7-minute mini-workshop on pluralism, and I love seeing the guests nodding in agreement and joy. The workshop is titled “Embracing Pluralism for a Peaceful Life,” and it addresses the questions: What do I stand to lose, and what is the core essence of our practices?
In defense of Islam, Pursuing A Civil Dialogue
Steve Blow wrote this piece in the Dallas Morning News
Over and over, you hear it said: If Muslims oppose terrorism, why don’t they stand up and say it?
If that has been you, Mike Ghouse ought to be your hero.
It is hard to imagine that anyone has worked harder than the Carrollton resident to demonstrate the peaceful and moderate side of Islam.
And that effort includes personally visiting Dallas’ First Baptist Church last Sunday just to put a friendly face on the “evil, evil religion” that the Rev. Robert Jeffress denounced a few weeks before.
Full Article: In defense of Islam, Pursuing A Civil Dialogue
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