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Deaf couple ties the knot

Kuala Lumpur, 5 Dec – A special couple in love, Nuzaihan Mustapa and Qistina Low Li Cheng, who are both born deaf, had finally walked down the aisle.

Their love blossomed since six years ago after they met three times at Pulau Pangkor, Pulau Langkawi and Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD). Nuzaihan, 28, the only son of Mustapa Ibrahim and Maryam Abdullah, is a graphic designer at the National Art Gallery of Malaysia and Bachelor’s degree holder from Limkokwing University.
Qistina, who is the youngest child of Low Poh Wing and Tan Saw Kim, is a diploma graduate from the same university and currently working as a graphic designer at a local animation company in Puchong. Because of love, Qistina converted to Islam after learning about Islam from her close friends for more than a year. Although different in religion, their marriage is blessed by their parents.
“I fall in love with Zaihan because he is a handsome, good man and always gives me advice and teaches me about Islam.” “I feel happy because after six years facing challenges and trials, we are finally married.” Qistina told the reporters who were here at the Balai Badan Kebajikan Islam, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail today.
Also present at the akad nikah and persandingan (seating of bridal couple on a dais) ceremony were MFD advisors, Tan Sri Saleha Mohd. Ali and Major General (B) Datuk Mohamed Ali Wayat and the President of MFD, Mohamad Sazali Shaari. The akad nikah was officiated by Zulkeffly Adimun, a kadi from Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan. The mas kahwin presented by the bride was a gold necklace and a cheque of RM5,000. The hantaran was seven trays of gifts while the bride replied with nine trays of gifts. Before formalisation of matrimony, Nuzaihan uttered the akad nikah words twice using sign language with the help from an interpreter. Nuzaihan admitted that he is attracted to Qistina’s personalities which are enthusiastic, pretty and likes to encourage. He hopes that they can have two children.
Besides that, Mohamad Sazali said that the akad nikah ceremony followed the correct procedure because the name of the wife was uttered, although using sign language.

Nuzaihan Mustapa (left), who is deaf, used sign language when uttering akad nikah words in front of marriage official while he was accompanied by his Chinese spouse Qistina Low Li Cheng who is also deaf at their persandingan ceremony at Balai Bakti, TTDI, Kuala Lumpur.

Utter the words of akad nikah using sign language

At Kuala Lumpur yesterday, at their wedding, the bridegroom Nuzaihan Mustapa, 28, a disabled person (OKU) who is deaf, used sign language to utter his akad nikah words with his spouse Qistina Low, 30, who comes from a different ethnic group. After uttered the required words in one breath, the solemnisation of the OKU couple, who have known each other for six years and actively joining Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD), were officiated by Zulkifli Abdullah, the Imam from Jabatan Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan (Jawi), with the help from an interpreter.

Marries using sign language

Kuala Lumpur: Although using sign language, the akad nikah (solemnisation) ceremony of disabled (OKU) couple, Nuzaihan Mustapa, 28, and Qistina Low Li Cheng at Rumah Badan Kebajikan Islam, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (Dewan Bakti) proceeded smoothly yesterday.
After uttered the words twice, Nuzaihan and Qistina, who are both deaf and mute, are legally husband and wife after they have known each other for six years.
“I am happy that I am now legally Nuzaihan’s wife,” said Qistina, while what she said was translated by Hafidah Awaludin, an interpreter from Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD). Qistina, 30, who works as a graphic designer at Puchong, started to learn more about Islam since 2008. She was taught by Nuzaihan and friends before she converted to Islam. “Besides her beauty, Qistina is special as she has positive attitudes and always gives me encouragement when I need it,” said Nuzaihan. Nuzaihan, also works as a graphic designer, had prepared mas kahwin of a gold necklace worth more than RM300 and RM5,000 wang hantaran (dowry).

Happy ….. Nuzaihan and Qistina, together with their family, showing their happiness using sign language.

Overcome obstacles, sharing joys and sorrows

Malay Deaf man and Chinese deaf lady tie the knots Kuala Lumpur: In a wedding, the most important thing the bride and bridegroom concern about is that the wedding should be lively and jolly. This is especially important when the bridegroom said out loudly: “I love you.” the bride will be so touched that the feeling can hardly be described.
However, can you imagine a wedding without dialogue communication? During the whole wedding, the bride and bridegroom only communicate by eye contact and sign language while the guests also do not talk much, will it be a dull wedding? Actually, the silent world does not obstruct the arrival of love. Language is unnecessary when the love is deep. Even though there is no dialogue communication, Chinese bride Qistina Low (28 years old, graphic designer) and Malay bridegroom Nuzaihan (30 years old, graphic designer), who are both deaf, made the wedding vow to love and support each other on their life-long journey. In Malaysia, intermarriage between the various ethnic groups is not rare. The main difference of this Malay and Chinese intermarriage from other ordinary wedding is that both the bride and bridegroom are deaf.
Both of the bride and bridegroom look forward to the wedding. Today, they make their wedding vow by using sign language. When the bridegroom kissed the bride, she smiled sweetly, showing that love can defeat any difficulties. Their friends and relatives were also influenced by their love and gave the bride and bridegroom their blessings. The bride and bridegroom have the good fortune to get to know each other, fall in love and finally make their lifetime vow. Their wedding was held at Dewan Bakti, Taman Tun Dr Ismail on Saturday morning (5 December, 2009) and their Islamic wedding ceremony was officiated by Pak Imam Zulkifri.

Mutual understanding and communication through eye contact The most special part of the wedding is that both the bride and bridegroom remained silent, only nodding and smiling. The mutual understanding between them is totally through eye contact. There was also a sign language interpreter who helped to express the couple’s happiness on their wedding day. The bridegroom Nuzaihan and the bride Qistina had known each other for 9 years, which began at the Deaf Society, and had impressed each other. After that, both of them went to Limkokwing University of Creative Technology for further studies. Their feelings for each other grew as they meet each other more often. They finally started dating 6 years ago. Nuzaihan is the only son in his family. Grow up under the nurture of his father, who is an artist at the Central Market, Nuzaihan possesses a talent for design and he is currently working as a graphic designer. As for Qistina, she is the youngest daughter in the family. Her two siblings are also deaf at a young age. Influenced by her father, who is good at calligraphy, Qistina also possesses a talent for art. Qistina and the bridegroom both like art, graduated from the same school and holding the same type of job. Their similar interest and personalities leads to a marriage that is praised by many people. One year ago, Qistina had converted to Islam and learnt the Islamic ceremony and propriety from family and friends, so that she can fit into her husband’s family after marriage.

Parents hope that the couple raises a family normally Nuzaihan‘s parents, Mr. Mustapa Ibrahim and Mdm. Maryam Abdullah, are gratified with their son’s wedding. They said that it is not easy to raise a deaf child. They need to worry about his mental and physical growth, providing him good education and wishes that he grows up to be a useful person. Mr. Mustapa said that he and his wife expend their energies and rack their brains for raising their child. Both of them are deeply touched now that their child has started a family. He said that what the parents wanted most is that in the future the newly-wed can bear and raise children like normal people. The bride’s and bridegroom’s parents hope to give their children a wedding that is the same as the wedding of an ordinary couple. Over hundred of the couple’s friends and relatives showed their support by attending the wedding. Everyone prayed for the couple and gave them their best wishes, hoping that the couple will support each other in their future. As the wedding is different from ordinary wedding which is noisy and lively, the attended friends and relatives can pay attention to every detail and the attention was focused on the couple and the communication between them. The bride and bridegroom exchanged rings and became husband and wife. From now on, they will support each other and share joys and sorrows. Pak Imam Zulkifri performed Islamic wedding ceremony for the deaf Nuzaihan and Qistina. 6