Marriage in Islam (Nikah)

Marriage (nikah) in Islam is a sacred contract and a means of completing half of one's faith. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "When a servant of Allah marries, he has completed half of his religion, so let him fear Allah in the remaining half" (Sahih al-Jami). Islam encourages marriage as the natural way to fulfill physical desires lawfully, build families, and find tranquility. Allah says: "And among His signs is that He created for you from yourselves spouses that you may find tranquility in them, and He placed between you affection and mercy" (Quran 30:21).

Conditions of a Valid Marriage

A valid Islamic marriage requires several conditions: mutual consent of both parties, the presence of a wali (guardian) for the bride according to the majority of scholars (the Hanafi school allows an adult woman to contract her own marriage), the presence of at least two witnesses, and the specification of a mahr (bridal gift) from the groom to the bride. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is no marriage without a wali" (Sunan Abu Dawud) and "There is no marriage except with a wali and two trustworthy witnesses" (Sahih Ibn Hibban).

The Mahr (Bridal Gift)

The mahr is a mandatory gift from the groom to the bride, which becomes her exclusive property. It can be anything of value agreed upon by both parties. Allah says: "And give the women their bridal gifts graciously" (Quran 4:4). The Prophet encouraged moderation in mahr, saying: "The best marriage is one made easiest" (Sahih al-Bukhari). The mahr can be paid immediately (mu'ajjal) or deferred (mu'ajjal), or a combination of both. There is no minimum or maximum in the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, while the Hanafi school sets a minimum of ten dirhams.

Rights and Obligations

Both spouses have rights and obligations. The husband is responsible for financial maintenance (nafaqah), including housing, food, clothing, and medical care. He must treat his wife with kindness and justice: "Live with them in kindness" (Quran 4:19). The wife has the right to her mahr, maintenance, kind treatment, and equitable time if the husband has more than one wife. Both spouses owe each other companionship, intimacy, fidelity, and mutual consultation in family affairs. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "The best of you is the best to his family, and I am the best of you to my family" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi).

The Marriage Ceremony

The Islamic marriage ceremony is simple. It consists of the proposal and acceptance (ijab and qabul) in the presence of the wali and witnesses, and a khutbah (sermon) is recommended. The Prophet's marriage khutbah included praise of Allah, the Shahada, and relevant Quranic verses (Quran 3:102, 4:1, 33:70-71). Public announcement of the marriage through a walimah (wedding feast) is strongly encouraged. The Prophet said: "Announce the marriage" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi) and "The difference between a lawful and unlawful marriage is the beating of the duff and the public announcement" (Sunan al-Tirmidhi).