A nikkah is the Islamic marriage contract. Both people consent in front of witnesses, a mehr is agreed for the bride, and the ceremony is usually short: recitation from the Qur'an, the exchange of consent, and signing. For Muslim families it is the moment the couple are married in the eyes of their faith.
In Urdu it is written نکاح. Say it "nik-AAH".
Which traditions use it
The nikkah is part of every Muslim wedding, whatever the culture. In the UK you will meet it most often at Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi Muslim weddings, where it sits alongside cultural events such as the mehndi, baraat and walima. As the BBC's guide to Muslim weddings puts it, many wedding customs "are a matter of culture and not of Islam". The nikkah is the religious part; much of the rest is family tradition.
What the ceremony needs is simple. The BBC guide says "No special religious official is necessary", although an imam is often present and may give a short sermon. There are witnesses for both sides, and the marriage should be public rather than secret.
When it happens
Families place the nikkah differently:
- on the wedding day, at the mosque, at home or at the venue before the baraat reception;
- a day or more before the main events, in a small family gathering;
- sometimes months before the rukhsati, when the bride moves to her new home.
The legal side. The BBC guide notes that the majority of UK mosques have not been registered for marriages, so an Islamic wedding held only at a mosque has to be registered separately to be valid in UK law. The Law Commission warns that marriages which do not meet the legal requirements "may not be legally recognised". Give notice at your local register office at least 29 days before the civil ceremony.
Vendors involved
The imam is usually arranged through your mosque rather than booked as a vendor. Around the nikkah you may need a venue or a nikkah stage, a photographer who knows when to stay discreet, a caterer and a decorator. Browse by city from our locations pages, and use our questions to ask your venue and questions to ask your photographer sheets.
Common spellings
Nikkah, nikah, nikaah and nikka are all used. "Nikah" is closest to the Arabic; "nikkah" is common on UK invitations. You will also see the contract itself called the nikah nama.
Questions
Not on its own in most cases. Most UK mosques are not registered for marriages, so a nikkah held there needs a separate civil registration to be recognised in law. Give notice at your register office at least 29 days before, and check with your mosque or venue.
Not always. The BBC's guide to Muslim weddings notes that the bride does not have to be present as long as she sends two witnesses to the agreement. In practice most UK brides attend.
The nikkah is the marriage contract itself. The walima is the feast afterwards, usually hosted by the groom's family, which announces the marriage publicly.
Related terms: mehr · walima · rukhsati · valima vs reception
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