How a nikah is conducted
The recommended order of a nikah gathering, the words actually spoken for offer and acceptance, and what follows the marriage.
It is recommended to hold a nikah in a mosque, out in the open where people can see it, not hidden away. Everyone present should have nothing wrong going on around them at the time.
What happens at a nikah
- The groom comes to the gathering himself. If the bride is a grown woman, her guardian or someone she has chosen speaks for her; if she is very young, her guardian must be there instead.
- A short sermon (khutbah) is recited, and everyone listens quietly.
- In front of two witnesses, the bride's guardian or representative says the words of offer to the groom, naming the bride, her father, the mahr, and the witnesses.
- The groom replies with the words of acceptance, right away, so the witnesses hear both together.
- Everyone then makes a supplication (dua) asking Allah to bless the couple.
Afterwards, people often congratulate the couple and their families, and it is sunnah for the groom to give a wedding feast (walimah) once the couple have started their married life together.
بارَكَ اللهُ لَكَ وَ بارَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَ جَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ
Bāraka'llāhu laka wa bāraka'llāhu ʿalayka wa jamaʿa baynakumā fī khayr
May Allah bless you with this marriage, and may He bring you both together in goodness.
The nikah ceremony should be free of anything unlawful, since nikah is a matter fixed entirely by Sharia. It is recommended to hold it inside a mosque, and to conduct it publicly, with righteous people and others present rather than in secret.
The groom (or his guardian, if he is not yet mature) must be present at the gathering. The bride's guardian or agent should also be present: her guardian if she is a minor, or her own representative if she is mature, since a mature woman's guardian may also serve as her agent. Before the contract, it is recommended to renew one's declaration of faith and recite relevant supplications, as a precaution.
The guardian or representative of a mature bride then approaches her with witnesses present and states the marriage and its dowry to her; the witnesses must be able to confirm that the woman being addressed is indeed the one named in the contract. If the bride is a minor, there is no need to approach her, as her guardian already has full authority to contract on her behalf. Where the bride is a mature virgin whose father or grandfather is arranging the marriage, her silence, even a smile or tears, is accepted as consent; where she is a widow or divorcee, or someone other than her father or grandfather is asking, she must say explicitly, "I consent" or "I permit."
After consent is secured, it is recommended that the marriage sermon (khutbah) be recited aloud; reciting it is recommended, but everyone present listening to it in silence is obligatory. It is preferably read by the bride's own guardian, as the Prophet ﷺ did at his daughter Fatimah's wedding; failing that, by the officiant or another righteous man.
Once the sermon is finished, the bride's guardian or representative and the groom exchange the offer and acceptance in front of the witnesses; if they do not do this themselves, the officiant prompts them with the following words.
بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَ جَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ . جَمَعَ اللهُ شَمْلَكُمَا وَ اَسْعَدَ جَدَّكُمَا وَ بَارَكَ عَلَيْكُمَا وَ اَخْرَجَ مِنْكُمَا كَثِيراً طَيِّبًا . اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَآ اٰدَمَ وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا حَوَّآءَ عَلٰى نَبِيِّنَا وَ عَلَيْهِمَا الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَامُ اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَسَيِّدَتِنَا سَارَةَ وَسَيِّدَتِنَا هَاجَرَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ عَلَيْهِمُ الصَّلٰوة وَالسَّلَامُ اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا يُوسُفَ وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا زُلَيْخَا عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَعَلَيْهِمَا الصَّلَوةُ وَالسَّلَامُ . اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا مُوسَى وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا صَفُورَاءَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ عَلَيْهِمُ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَامُ . اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا سُلَيْمَانَ وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا بِلْقِيْسَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ عَلَيْهِمَا الصَّلَوةُ وَالسَّلَامُ اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا وَمَوْلَانَا مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا خَدِيجَةَ الْكُبْرِى وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا عَائِشَةَ الصِّدِّيقَةِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالٰى عَنْهُمَا. اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا عَلِيِّ الْمُرْتَضٰى وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا فَاطِمَةَ الزَّهۡرَآءِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالٰى عَنْهُمَا اٰمِينَ يَا رَبَّ الۡعَالَمِينَ اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ لِلْحَاضِرِينَ وَلِاَهْلِِ هٰذَا الْمَجْلِسِ كُلِّهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ . سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ وَسَلّٰمٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَلَمِينَ .
Bāraka'llāhu laka wa bāraka'llāhu ʿalayka wa jamaʿa baynakumā fī khayr. Jamaʿa'llāhu shamlakumā wa asʿada jaddakumā wa bāraka ʿalaykumā wa akhraja minkumā kathīran ṭayyibā. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā Ādama wa sayyidatinā Ḥawwāʾa, ʿalā nabiyyinā wa ʿalayhima'ṣ-ṣalātu wa's-salām. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā Ibrāhīma wa sayyidatinā Sārata wa sayyidatinā Hājara, ʿalā nabiyyinā wa ʿalayhimu'ṣ-ṣalātu wa's-salām. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā Yūsufa wa sayyidatinā Zulaykhā, ʿalā nabiyyinā wa ʿalayhima'ṣ-ṣalātu wa's-salām. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā Mūsā wa sayyidatinā Ṣafūrāʾa, ʿalā nabiyyinā wa ʿalayhimu'ṣ-ṣalātu wa's-salām. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā Sulaymāna wa sayyidatinā Bilqīsa, ʿalā nabiyyinā wa ʿalayhima'ṣ-ṣalātu wa's-salām. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā wa mawlānā Muḥammadin ṣalla'llāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam wa sayyidatinā Khadījata'l-Kubrā wa sayyidatinā ʿĀʾishata'ṣ-Ṣiddīqah, raḍiya'llāhu taʿālā ʿanhumā. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā ʿAliyyini'l-Murtaḍā wa sayyidatinā Fāṭimata'z-Zahrāʾ, raḍiya'llāhu taʿālā ʿanhumā. Āmīn yā rabba'l-ʿālamīn. Allāhumma bārik li'l-ḥāḍirīn wa li-ahli hādha'l-majlisi kullihim ajmaʿīn. Subḥāna rabbika rabbi'l-ʿizzati ʿammā yaṣifūn, wa salāmun ʿala'l-mursalīn, wa'l-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi'l-ʿālamīn.
May Allah bless you and grant you blessing, and bring you both together in goodness. May Allah unite your affairs, bring good fortune to your family, bless you both, and bring forth from you much that is good. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Adam and our lady Eve; peace and blessings be upon our Prophet and upon them. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Ibrahim, our lady Sarah, and our lady Hajar; peace and blessings be upon our Prophet and upon them. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Yusuf and our lady Zulaykha; peace and blessings be upon our Prophet and upon them. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Musa and our lady Safura; peace and blessings be upon our Prophet and upon them. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Sulayman and our lady Bilqis; peace and blessings be upon our Prophet and upon them. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master and leader Muhammad ﷺ and our ladies Khadijah al-Kubra and Aisha as-Siddiqah, may Allah be pleased with them both. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Ali al-Murtada and our lady Fatimah az-Zahra, may Allah be pleased with them both. Amin, O Lord of all the worlds. O Allah, bless all those present, and everyone of this whole gathering. Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of Might, above what they describe, and peace be upon the messengers, and all praise is for Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
بارَكَ اللهُ لَكَ وَ بارَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَ جَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ
Bāraka'llāhu laka wa bāraka'llāhu ʿalayka wa jamaʿa baynakumā fī khayr
May Allah bless you with this marriage, and may He bring harmony and unity between you both in goodness.
After the wedding night, when the couple's union takes place, it is sunnah for the groom, to the best of his ability, to host a walimah (wedding feast).
The majlis of nikah must be free of any munkar, nikah being a purely Sharʿī matter whose form should reflect that. It is mustahabb to hold it inside a masjid, and to conduct it publicly (iʿlān), with the salihin and others present, rather than concealed.
The ʿaqid (here, the groom) must be present in the majlis, or his wali if he is not yet baligh. The bride's wali or wakil must likewise be present: her wali if she is a minor, or her own wakil if she is mature, a mature bride's wali being equally entitled to double as her wakil; absent any wali, another representative may stand in. Before the ʿaqd, it is recommended, as a precaution, that tawbah and istighfar be made and the general and detailed shahadatayn recited, since words affecting one's iman can slip out unintentionally through jahl.
The wali or wakil of a mature bride then approaches her, with the shuhud present, and states to her the marriage and its mahr, mu'ajjal or mu'ajjal, such that the witnesses can confirm the woman addressed is indeed the ʿaqidah named in the contract. Where the bride (ʿaqidah) is a minor, there is no need to approach her, her wali already holding full authority to contract on her behalf. Where she is a mature bikr and her father or grandfather is seeking her consent, her silence, even a non-mocking laugh or tears, is accepted as ijazah; where she is thayyibah, or someone other than her father or grandfather seeks her consent, she must state explicitly, "I consent" or "I permit."
Once ijazah is secured, it is mustahabb that the khutbat an-nikah be recited aloud (reciting it is mustahabb, though silent attention to it by all present is wajib), preferably by the bride's own wali, following the precedent of the Prophet ﷺ at the nikah of Fatimah az-Zahra (raḍiya Allāhu ʿanhā); failing that, by the officiant or another salih man present.
Once the khutbah is complete, the wali or wakil of the bride and the groom exchange ijab wa qubul before the shuhud; where they do not do so of their own accord, the officiant (the one reciting the nikah) prompts them with the following words.
بَارَكَ اللَّهُ لَكَ وَ بَارَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَ جَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ . جَمَعَ اللهُ شَمْلَكُمَا وَ اَسْعَدَ جَدَّكُمَا وَ بَارَكَ عَلَيْكُمَا وَ اَخْرَجَ مِنْكُمَا كَثِيراً طَيِّبًا . اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَآ اٰدَمَ وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا حَوَّآءَ عَلٰى نَبِيِّنَا وَ عَلَيْهِمَا الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَامُ اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَسَيِّدَتِنَا سَارَةَ وَسَيِّدَتِنَا هَاجَرَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ عَلَيْهِمُ الصَّلٰوة وَالسَّلَامُ اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا يُوسُفَ وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا زُلَيْخَا عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَعَلَيْهِمَا الصَّلَوةُ وَالسَّلَامُ . اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا مُوسَى وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا صَفُورَاءَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ عَلَيْهِمُ الصَّلٰوةُ وَالسَّلَامُ . اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا سُلَيْمَانَ وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا بِلْقِيْسَ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا وَ عَلَيْهِمَا الصَّلَوةُ وَالسَّلَامُ اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا وَمَوْلَانَا مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا خَدِيجَةَ الْكُبْرِى وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا عَائِشَةَ الصِّدِّيقَةِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالٰى عَنْهُمَا. اَللّٰهُمَّ أَلِّفۡ بَيْنَهُمَا كَمَا أَلَّفۡتَ بَيْنَ سَيِّدِنَا عَلِيِّ الْمُرْتَضٰى وَ سَيِّدَتِنَا فَاطِمَةَ الزَّهۡرَآءِ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ تَعَالٰى عَنْهُمَا اٰمِينَ يَا رَبَّ الۡعَالَمِينَ اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ لِلْحَاضِرِينَ وَلِاَهْلِِ هٰذَا الْمَجْلِسِ كُلِّهِمْ أَجْمَعِينَ . سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ وَسَلّٰمٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَلَمِينَ .
Bāraka'llāhu laka wa bāraka'llāhu ʿalayka wa jamaʿa baynakumā fī khayr. Jamaʿa'llāhu shamlakumā wa asʿada jaddakumā wa bāraka ʿalaykumā wa akhraja minkumā kathīran ṭayyibā. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā Ādama wa sayyidatinā Ḥawwāʾa, ʿalā nabiyyinā wa ʿalayhima'ṣ-ṣalātu wa's-salām. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā Ibrāhīma wa sayyidatinā Sārata wa sayyidatinā Hājara, ʿalā nabiyyinā wa ʿalayhimu'ṣ-ṣalātu wa's-salām. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā Yūsufa wa sayyidatinā Zulaykhā, ʿalā nabiyyinā wa ʿalayhima'ṣ-ṣalātu wa's-salām. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā Mūsā wa sayyidatinā Ṣafūrāʾa, ʿalā nabiyyinā wa ʿalayhimu'ṣ-ṣalātu wa's-salām. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā Sulaymāna wa sayyidatinā Bilqīsa, ʿalā nabiyyinā wa ʿalayhima'ṣ-ṣalātu wa's-salām. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā wa mawlānā Muḥammadin ṣalla'llāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam wa sayyidatinā Khadījata'l-Kubrā wa sayyidatinā ʿĀʾishata'ṣ-Ṣiddīqah, raḍiya'llāhu taʿālā ʿanhumā. Allāhumma allif baynahumā kamā allafta bayna sayyidinā ʿAliyyini'l-Murtaḍā wa sayyidatinā Fāṭimata'z-Zahrāʾ, raḍiya'llāhu taʿālā ʿanhumā. Āmīn yā rabba'l-ʿālamīn. Allāhumma bārik li'l-ḥāḍirīn wa li-ahli hādha'l-majlisi kullihim ajmaʿīn. Subḥāna rabbika rabbi'l-ʿizzati ʿammā yaṣifūn, wa salāmun ʿala'l-mursalīn, wa'l-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi'l-ʿālamīn.
May Allah bless you and grant you blessing, and bring you both together in goodness. May Allah unite your affairs, bring good fortune to your family, bless you both, and bring forth from you much that is good. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Adam and our lady Eve; peace and blessings be upon our Prophet and upon them. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Ibrahim, our lady Sarah, and our lady Hajar; peace and blessings be upon our Prophet and upon them. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Yusuf and our lady Zulaykha; peace and blessings be upon our Prophet and upon them. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Musa and our lady Safura; peace and blessings be upon our Prophet and upon them. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Sulayman and our lady Bilqis; peace and blessings be upon our Prophet and upon them. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master and leader Muhammad ﷺ and our ladies Khadijah al-Kubra and Aisha as-Siddiqah, may Allah be pleased with them both. O Allah, bring their hearts together as You brought together our master Ali al-Murtada and our lady Fatimah az-Zahra, may Allah be pleased with them both. Amin, O Lord of all the worlds. O Allah, bless all those present, and everyone of this whole gathering. Glory be to your Lord, the Lord of Might, above what they describe, and peace be upon the messengers, and all praise is for Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
بارَكَ اللهُ لَكَ وَ بارَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَ جَمَعَ بَيْنَكُمَا فِي خَيْرٍ
Bāraka'llāhu laka wa bāraka'llāhu ʿalayka wa jamaʿa baynakumā fī khayr
May Allah bless you with this marriage, and may He bring harmony and unity between you both in goodness.
After the zafaf, the night on which the union of the spouses takes place, it is sunnah for the groom to host a walimah to the best of his ability.
Terms on this page
Related
- The rules of offer and acceptance The wording, timing and setting that a proposal and its acceptance must satisfy for a nikah to be valid.
- The witnesses to nikah A nikah needs two qualifying witnesses who hear the whole offer and acceptance together, or it is not valid.
- Spouses' rights, and marriages that do not hold What a marriage contract owes each spouse, and the situations elsewhere in this section where a nikah is invalid or left pending.
- Guardianship in marriage Who counts as a wali, in what order they stand, and what a guardian can and cannot decide for someone else.