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Nikah, or nikkah, (Arabic: النكاح ‎), is the contract between a bride and bridegroom within Islamic marriage.

A Muslim bride signing the nikkah nama or a marriage certificate.

[edit] Conditions

Nikah is based on several conditions. When these conditions are fulfilled, then a man and a woman are proclaimed as husband and wife and can live together and carry on their marital duties.

• Giving free consent to the marriage personally or through a close relative like father (called Wali). A man and woman say in clear voice three times that they accept (name of the person and his/her father name is called) as their husband/wife.
• The amount of Haq-e-Mahr (marriage money) is agreed upon, announced, and paid to the bride at the spot or paid in the future.
• Two adult free men witness the ceremony.
• The nikah is publicised or advertised widely.

[edit] Societal role

The nikah contract requires the consent of both parties very strictly if they are adults. There is a tradition in some Muslim countries, outside of the religion, to pre-arrange a marriage for young children. However, the marriage still requires consent of the concerned man and woman when they reach adulthood when the wedding actually goes ahead. Islam does allow divorce (talaq) so this contract is revocable. Marriage is seen as a necessity in Islam and is seen as helpful in avoiding zina (extramarital sex) or cruelty. A marriage which is carried out unofficially without informing the public is called nikah urfi.

[edit] See also

• Walima (marriage banquet)
• Islamic view of marriage
• Nikah urfi
• Nikah Mut‘ah (An Islamic Contract Marriage)
• Quaker wedding (Christian marriage "by declaration" signed by all witnesses present at wedding)

[edit] External links

• Nikah Muslim Matrimonials
• Nikah Khutbah
• Sahih Bukhari, Book 62 - hadith about marriage
• An-Nikah: The Marriage

[edit] References

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