Nikah - Witnesses & Permission

A Nikah is performed with a proposal (Ijaab) by the male or female and acceptance (Qabul) by the male or female respectively. This can be done in the past and/or present tense in the presence of two male Muslim witnesses.

It is Sunnah that the marriage be announced and performed in the Masjid and the bride be represented by her Mahram (father, brother, etc.).

The bride gives consent to her representative (Wakil) in the presence of two witnesses to perform her marriage at the Masjid.

At the Masjid, the Wakil represents the bride in the presence of the two witnesses who must be trustworthy and pious male Muslims. They should not be from among the girls ascendants e.g. father, etc. nor from her descendants, e.g. son, etc. A marriage without the two witnesses is not valid.

For the bride to get married, permission from her father / guardian is mandatory. A woman cannot marry someone without the permission of her father / guardian. This is according to the Shafi'i Ruling of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah.