A nikah is the Islamic marriage contract. It is valid when the bride and groom both consent, an offer (ijab) and an acceptance (qubul) are made in one sitting before witnesses, and the mehr (a gift owed by the groom to the bride) is fixed.
On the day, the qazi or maulana reads a khutbah, both sides say "qubul hai", the nikahnama is signed, and a dua closes it. The nikah itself takes 20 to 45 minutes.
Around the nikah, Indian Muslim families have many rituals of their own: mangni, manjha, mehendi raat before it, and rukhsati and walima after it. These differ by region and by family.
Nikah in Islam, a Contract and a Sunnah
In Islamic law the nikah is a contract between two people, with rights and duties for both. It is also a sunnah, a practice of the Prophet that Muslims are encouraged to follow. That is why the nikah is often held in a mosque, but it can be held at home or in a hall too.
In India, marriage among Muslims is governed by Muslim personal law. The Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937 says that in matters of marriage and dower (mehr), among others, the rule for Muslims is the Shariat.
Requirements of a Valid Nikah
The four schools of Sunni law and the Shia Ithna Ashari school differ on some points. This checklist follows the Hanafi school, which most Sunni Muslims in India follow. Ask your qazi about your own maslak.
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Consent of both | The bride and groom must agree freely. The bride is asked separately, usually by the qazi with two witnesses |
| Ijab and qubul | An offer and an acceptance, in the same sitting, in clear words |
| Witnesses | Two adult Muslim men, or one man and two women (Hanafi rule) |
| Mehr | An amount or property the groom gives or promises to the bride. It is her right, not her family's |
| No legal bar | The two must not be within the forbidden relations, and the bride must not be in iddat (the waiting period after divorce or the husband's death) |
| Wali | The bride's guardian, usually her father. In Hanafi law an adult woman can contract her own nikah. In the Shafi school a wali is needed |
Mehr is often written as a cash amount, gold, or a mix. Some families fix "mehr-e-Fatimi", an amount linked to the mehr of the Prophet's daughter Fatima, which different scholars convert to grams of silver in different ways. The figure is agreed between the families before the nikah. It is the bride's money.
Age matters too. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 treats a woman under 18 and a man under 21 as a child for marriage. Most qazis now ask for age proof before the nikah. If either person is younger than these ages, talk to a lawyer before going ahead.
Before the Nikah
| Ritual | What happens |
|---|---|
| Istikhara | A prayer for guidance, done by the boy or girl or an elder, before saying yes to a rishta |
| Mangni | The engagement. Rings or gifts are exchanged, the date is fixed |
| Manjha or mayun | Turmeric paste (ubtan) is applied to the bride, and in many families to the groom. The bride may stay at home in yellow clothes for a few days |
| Mehendi raat | The henna night, usually the night before the nikah, with songs |
| Sanchaq or sachaq | In Hyderabadi and some North Indian families, the groom's side sends the bridal clothes, jewellery and mehendi to the bride's home |
The Nikah Ceremony Step by Step
- The groom arrives with the baraat, often in a sherwani and a sehra, and is welcomed by the bride's family.
- The men usually sit separately from the women. The bride stays in a room with the women of the family.
- The qazi and two witnesses go to the bride. The qazi tells her the groom's name, his father's name and the mehr, and asks for her consent. She says "qubul hai" or nods, as the family's custom allows, and many qazis ask three times. The witnesses hear it.
- The qazi returns to the groom and reads the khutbah, a short sermon with verses from the Quran about marriage and taqwa (God-consciousness).
- The qazi makes the offer to the groom on the bride's behalf, naming the mehr. The groom answers "qubul kiya" or "qubul hai", usually three times.
- The nikahnama is signed by the groom, the bride, the wali or her vakil, the two witnesses and the qazi.
- The qazi leads a dua for the couple. Dates (khajoor) and sweets are shared, and the men hug the groom with "mubarak ho".
The nikahnama is the marriage record. Keep the original safe and make photocopies, because it is asked for in passport, visa and property work. Many states also want the marriage registered with the state registrar. Ask the qazi or your municipal office what your state needs.
Arsi Mushaf and Rukhsati
After the nikah, in many families, the bride and groom are seated together for the first time. A Quran and a mirror are placed between them, a dupatta is held over their heads, and they see each other's faces in the mirror. This is the arsi mushaf. Cousins then play small games, and the bride's sisters often hide the groom's shoes and ask for money to return them.
Rukhsati is the bride's departure from her parents' home. Her father or brother holds the Quran over her head as she leaves. It is the most emotional moment of the day. Few eyes stay dry.
Walima
The walima is a feast hosted by the groom's family after the nikah, usually a day or two later. It is a sunnah and is meant to announce the marriage. Families invite relatives, friends and neighbours, and in many communities the poor are also fed. Some families hold the walima on the same evening as the nikah to save a day.
Sunni and Shia, and Regional Differences
| Point | Sunni (Hanafi) | Shia (Ithna Ashari) |
|---|---|---|
| Witnesses | Required for validity | Not required for validity, but usually present |
| Words of the contract | Can be in any language, as long as they are clear | Usually said in Arabic, with set words. A Shia aalim often reads it for both sides |
| Who reads it | A qazi or any learned Muslim | An aalim or the couple's appointed agents (vakils) |
Regional customs vary even more than law. Hyderabadi weddings have the sachaq, the manjha and a long walima. Malabar Muslim weddings in Kerala have the mylanchi (henna) night and the nikah often at the mosque or home in the daytime. Dawoodi Bohra families have their own rites led by an amil from the community. Ask an elder from your own community for the details.
The Biodata Comes First
Most arranged nikahs still start with families exchanging biodatas through relatives or a community group. If you are at that stage, our Muslim marriage biodata has a Sect line and family details, and you can add the maslak with Add Your Own Field. You can also see all the designs here.
Common questions
What Are the Requirements of a Valid Nikah?
Free consent of both, an offer and acceptance in one sitting, two witnesses (in the Hanafi school), an agreed mehr, and no legal bar between the two. Ask your qazi about your own maslak.
Who Can Be a Witness in a Nikah?
In the Hanafi school, two adult Muslim men, or one man and two women. They must hear the offer and acceptance.
What Is Ijab and Qubul?
Ijab is the offer of marriage and qubul is the acceptance. Both are said in the same sitting, usually with the words "qubul hai".
How Long Does a Nikah Ceremony Take?
The nikah itself takes 20 to 45 minutes. With the baraat, meal and rukhsati, the wedding day runs five to eight hours.
What Is Rukhsati?
Rukhsati is the bride's farewell from her parents' home after the nikah, when she leaves with the groom's family.
Sources
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