Sunnah Method of Nikah: Simple, Valid Islamic Marriage Process

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The Sunnah Method of Nikah: A Simple, Valid Approach to Islamic Marriage

The Sunnah Method of Nikah: A Simple, Valid Approach to Islamic Marriage

Nikah, in its lawful form, is the union of two individuals. It holds great significance in Islam, as it is through it that human generations have continued to grow, and it is a means of completing the faith of a Muslim. Its primary purpose is the preservation of chastity and modesty. It is one of the most important aspects of human life and a precious gift from Allah to His servants. All the prophets, from the beginning to the end, got married and conveyed the message of marriage to their followers so that humanity may safeguard their honor and fulfill their desires in a lawful manner. Allah has mentioned in the Qur’an:

وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا رُسُلاً مِّن قَبْلِكَ وَجَعَلْنَا لَهُمْ أَزْوَاجًا وَذُرِّيَّةً (الرعد:38)
Translation: We have sent messengers before you and made for them wives and descendants.

This era is one of great trials. Parents should marry off their children as soon as they reach an appropriate age and when a good religious match is found. Allah commands in the Qur’an:
وَأَنكِحُوا الأَيَامَى مِنكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ إِن يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاء يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ (النور:32)
Translation: Marry off those among you who are single and the righteous among your male and female servants. If they are poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty. Allah is Vast, All-Knowing.

The Prophet (PBUH) said:
يَا مَعْشَرَ الشَّبَابِ مَنْ اسْتَطَاعَ منكُم الْبَاءَةَ فَلْيَتَزَوَّجْ ، فَإِنَّهُ أَغَضُّ لِلْبَصَرِ ، وَأَحْصَنُ لِلْفَرْجِ ، وَمَنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَعَلَيْهِ بِالصَّوْمِ فَإِنَّهُ لَهُ وِجَاءٌ (صحیح البخاری:5066 و صحیح مسلم :1400)
Translation: O youth, whoever among you can afford marriage, let him marry, for it lowers the gaze and protects the private parts. And whoever cannot afford it should fast, for fasting will be a shield for him.

I will not discuss the issues of nikah here, but will focus on how a nikah is performed and what the practice of the Prophet (PBUH) was in conducting a nikah. As great as the importance of nikah is, its performance should be simple, but people have complicated it with customs and traditions, deviating it from its Islamic practice. Consider this hadith that illustrates the simplicity of nikah:
إذا خطبَ إليكم مَن ترضَونَ دينَه وخلقَه ، فزوِّجوهُ إلَّا تفعلوا تَكن فتنةٌ في الأرضِ وفسادٌ عريضٌ (صحيح الترمذي:1084)
Translation: If a man whose religion and character are pleasing to you seeks marriage, then marry him off. If you do not, there will be great corruption and widespread mischief on earth.

This hadith describes the process of nikah: a man sends a marriage proposal to the father or guardian of the woman. If the father or guardian is satisfied with the man’s religion and character, they may marry off the woman to him. There is no mention of a ceremony, party, or excessive formalities in this process. If a person does not follow this simple practice, it leads to fitna (trial) and corruption. Today, fitna and corruption have spread because we have abandoned the sunnah and adopted foreign customs, even allowing Muslim men to marry non-Muslim women and vice versa, as seen with the influence of film stars.

In Muslim marriages, issues like lineage, ethnicity, beauty, wealth, status, rituals, and innovation have become mixed, whereas in the time of the Prophet (PBUH), marriages were simple. A proposal came from one side, and it was accepted, leading to marriage. Consider the marriage of ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf (RA):
Anas ibn Malik (RA) narrates:
أنَّ النبيَّ صلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ رأى عبدَ الرحمنِ بنِ عوفٍ أثرَ صُفرةٍ، قال :ما هذا؟ . قال : إني تزوجت امرأةً على وزنِ نواةٍ من ذهبٍ، قال :بارك لك اللهُ، أولمْ ولو بشاةٍ . (صحيح البخاري:5155)
Translation: The Prophet (PBUH) saw the yellow stain on ‘Abdur-Rahman bin ‘Awf and asked, “What is this?” He replied, “I married a woman for the weight of a date pit in gold.” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “May Allah bless you. Hold a walimah, even if it is with a sheep.”

Notice how simple the wedding was. The Prophet (PBUH) did not even attend the ceremony, despite both being in the same location. It was straightforward and without extravagance. Another example is the marriage of the Prophet (PBUH) to Safiyyah (RA) after the Battle of Khaybar:
أنَّ رسولَ اللهِ صلَّى اللهُ عليهِ وسلَّمَ أعتَقَ صفيَّةَ وتزوَّجَهَا وجعَلَ عِتْقَهَا صدَاقَهَا ، وأولمَ عليها بِحَيْسٍ (صحيح البخاري:5169)
Translation: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) freed Safiyyah and married her, making her freedom her mahr, and held a walimah with dates.

The simplicity of this marriage is evident. There are no elaborate rituals. Another narration discusses a woman who offered herself in marriage to the Prophet (PBUH):
جاءت امرأة إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقالت : إني وهبت منك نفسي . فقامت طويلا ، فقال رجل : زوجنيها إن لم تكن لك بها حاجة ، قال : ( هل عندك من شيء تصدقها ) قال : ما عندي إلا إزاري ، فقال : ( إن أعطيتها إياه جلست لا إزار لك ، فالتمس شيئا ) . فقال ما أجد شيئا ، فقال : ( التمس ولو خاتما من حديد ) . فلم يجد ، فقال : ( أمعك من القرآن شيء ) . قال : نعم ، سورة كذا ، سورة كذا ، لسور سماها ، فقال : ( زوجناكها بما معك من القرأن ) . (صحيح البخاري:5135)
Translation: A woman came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said, “I offer myself in marriage to you.” After some time, a man said, “Marry her to me if you have no need for her.” The Prophet (PBUH) asked, “Do you have anything to give her as mahr?” He replied, “I have nothing but my loincloth.” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “If you give it to her, you will have no clothing left. Find something else.” He said, “I have nothing.” The Prophet (PBUH) then asked, “Do you know any part of the Qur’an?” He said, “Yes, I know such and such surahs.” The Prophet (PBUH) said, “We marry you to her for the portion of the Qur’an you know.”

The summary of all these hadiths is that nikah is simply the offer (Ijab) and acceptance (Qubul). There is no need for a qazi or imam, no celebration, no dowry or extravagance.

Brief summary of Nikah

To make it easier for those who are performing nikah, here is a brief summary of the correct way to perform it:

The marriage proposal has already been made, and the families are gathered. The boy’s guardian (or a representative with the girl’s consent) is also present.
It is recommended to announce the nikah. The Prophet (PBUH) said:
أعلِنوا هذا النِّكاحَ واضرِبوا عليْهِ بالغربالِ (صحيح ابن ماجه:1549)
Translation: Announce the nikah and celebrate it with a tambourine.
A marriage contract must be signed and documented for social and legal reasons.
The mahr should be agreed upon and documented to avoid disputes later. Allah commands:
وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ (البقرة:237)
Translation: If you divorce them before consummation, but you have already fixed a dowry for them, then half of it must be paid.
The girl’s guardian’s consent is required, either through his presence or by a representative acting on his behalf.
The Prophet (PBUH) said:
لا نِكاحَ إلَّا بوليٍّ (صحیح ابن ماجہ :1537)
Translation: There is no marriage without a guardian.
Two just witnesses are required to validate the nikah, as evidenced by Allah’s statement:
فَإِذَا بَلَغْنَ أَجَلَهُنَّ فَأَمْسِكُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ أَوْ فَارِقُوهُنَّ بِمَعْرُوفٍ وَأَشْهِدُوا ذَوَيْ عَدْلٍ مِّنكُمْ (الطلاق:2)
Translation: When they reach their term, either retain them honorably or part with them honorably, and take two just witnesses from among you.
After these steps, the qazi should deliver the khutbah al-hajah (the opening sermon), which is not obligatory but recommended. It is a brief praise of Allah, seeking His guidance and forgiveness.
After the khutbah, the qazi should ask the groom if he accepts the marriage of the bride. Once the groom says “Yes,” the nikah is complete. The mention of mahr during this time is not obligatory as long as it has already been agreed upon.
There is no need to get the bride’s consent again at this stage, as it has already been done through her guardian.
Finally, ensure that the marriage form is signed and the documents are completed.

Every Nikah Khawan (officiant), wali (guardian), groom, and bride should know the pillars and conditions of a marriage. In fact, every Muslim needs to be aware of them.

Nikah has two pillars:

The existence of the spouses and the legitimacy of their marriage, meaning there should be no obstacles such as breastfeeding, kinship, iddah (waiting period), pregnancy, etc.
The offer (Ijab) made by the wali or his representative with the mention of the bride’s name and the acceptance (Qabul) by the groom.

There are also two conditions for the Nikah:

The consent and approval of the wali (guardian).
The presence of two just witnesses.

Announcing the marriage is not obligatory but is considered recommended (Mustahabb). If the two pillars and two conditions are met, the Nikah is valid.

It is not proven in the Hadith to make a collective dua after the Nikah. However, it is recommended to give individual congratulations to the bride and groom. It is narrated from Sayyidna Abu Hurairah (RA) that when the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) congratulated someone on their marriage, he would say:
«بارك الله لك وبارك عليك وجمع بينكما في خير»
“May Allah bless you, and may He bless upon you, and may He unite you both in goodness.”
(Sahih Abi Dawood: 2130)

The groom should also hold a Walimah (feast) after the bride’s departure. There is a Hadith regarding the Walimah from the marriage of ‘Abdur Rahman (RA) in which the Prophet (PBUH) said:
“Make the Walimah, even if it is with one sheep.”

Clarification of a few more points regarding Nikah:

There is no need to call a scholar or qazi from another place to conduct the Nikah. The bride’s guardian can simply say to the groom, “I marry my daughter, so-and-so, to you,” and the groom responds with, “I accept.” The marriage is valid. If there is a scholar in the village, there is no harm in having them perform the Nikah.
It is not proven from the Sunnah to make the bride or groom recite the Kalimah, perform repentance, or state the articles of faith (Iman Mujmal and Iman Mufassal) during the Nikah. This is an innovation in religion.
It is wrong to insist that the Nikah must be conducted using Arabic words like “Zawajtu”, “Nikhtu”, or “Qabiltu”. The marriage can be done in any language as long as the offer and acceptance are clear.
It is not necessary to repeat the offer and acceptance three times; one time is sufficient.
Distributing “Chhohara” (Dates) after marriage is not a Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) or his companions. It is a mere custom that should be avoided, as it often causes disputes. The narration regarding this is weak, and Shaykh Albani declared it to be fabricated:
“كان إذا زوَّج أو تزوَّج نثَر تمرًا.”
“When the Prophet (PBUH) married or was married, he would distribute dates.”
(Silsilat al-Da’ifah: 4198)
After the Nikah, gathering the groom and his companions in the courtyard and allowing non-mahram girls to mix, laugh, make jokes, or engage in inappropriate actions is unlawful and sinful. All those present who see, hear, or support this behavior will also share in the sin.
The Mahr (dowry) is neither a pillar nor a condition of the Nikah. If it is not specified at the time of the marriage, the Nikah is still valid. However, once the Nikah is concluded, the Mahr becomes obligatory.
It is incorrect to declare the mosque as the prescribed place for the Nikah, as there are weak narrations related to this. A Nikah can be conducted in a mosque, outside of a mosque, or anywhere else.
A valid marriage can take place with only four people present: the guardian (wali), the groom, and two just witnesses. If others are gathered, it is merely an announcement of the marriage, but the concept of a “baraat” (wedding procession) is not Islamic and should be avoided.
If the above-mentioned pillars and conditions are met, even a Nikah conducted over the phone is valid. However, running away with the girl, exchanging rings, getting the marriage registered in a court, or holding a fake ceremony in a park or with a so-called Nikah Khawan will not constitute a valid marriage unless the girl’s wali is in agreement.