Filipino Wedding Glossary › Inai
Inai
Pronunciation: EE-nai
Origin: Tausug term for henna, used in pre-wedding rituals among Sulu Muslim communities
The Tausug name for henna, applied in a pre-wedding ritual that varies by family and Sulu community.
Inai is the Tausug word for henna and the pre-wedding ritual where it is applied. It is observed among Sulu Muslim communities, with practices that vary by family.
The ritual carries cultural and aesthetic meaning beyond decoration; what is signified depends on the community and the elders leading the ceremony.
This is a Tausug practice. Other Filipino-Muslim communities (Maranao, Maguindanao, Sama, Yakan) have their own pre-wedding traditions that should not be conflated with inai.