This paper examines marriage and wedding customs and regulations in Egypt, with a focus on the traditions practiced by Coptic Orthodox Christians and Muslims in the village of Isnīt, located in Markaz Kaft Shukr in the Qalyūbiyya province of Lower Egypt. It explores the similarities and differences between the two religious communities, investigates divorce practices, and highlights culturally ingrained traditions that are not endorsed by either faith. While this study centers on Isnīt, interviews suggest that these traditions are widespread across villages in Lower Egypt.

Marriage is a significant social and religious institution among both Coptic Orthodox Christians and Muslims in Egypt. The village of Isnīt, with its mixed Christian/Muslim population, provides a unique setting for examining these traditions. This paper investigates the similarities and differences in marriage customs, the handling of divorce, and the presence of certain practices that appear to contravene core tenets of both religions. This introduction will explore the context of the study further and clarify how the study was conducted. Before exploring the traditions in Isnīt, there will be a section that delves into the rules regarding marriage and divorce in Egypt according to the law, different religious authorities, and the history of marriage and divorce in Egypt for both Coptic Christians and Muslims.

Isnīt is a village with a mixed Christian/Muslim population in Markaz Kafr Shukr in the province of Qalyūbiyya. The number of residents of Isnīt could not be precisely identified but has been estimated by multiple residents to be between 50,000 and 200,000. Although this number is quite large, it is not unusual for villages along the Nile in Egypt to have such a sizable population. Multiple people were interviewed for this study, the main interviewees being Fāṭima, a 22-year-old Muslim woman from Isnīt; Erīny, a 23-year-old Coptic Christian woman; and the imām that conducts marriages in the village, also known as the mā’dhūn, named Ṭāriq. Additionally, relevant questions were asked to other villagers to obtain multiple perspectives on the exact population and the local traditions. On top of that, multiple traditions were observed up close and in person. Through the use of relevant literature, in-person observations, and interviews, this paper aims to give a detailed and realistic overview of the practices and traditions in villages in Lower Egypt and how these might not be in line with religion and the law.