Are you planning to get married? Contact Imam Faisal to perform a marriage contract and ceremony (Nikkah) according to Muslim religious rites. Imam Faisal is a licensed Muslim Marriage Commissioner in Saskatchewan.
Cell Phone: 306-631-2567
Email: imam@iasmoosejaw.com
Address:
Islamic Association of Saskatchewan (IAOS), Moose Jaw
73 Lancaster Road, Moose Jaw,
SK, S6J 1M8
Marriage & Nikkah Enquiry Form
Islam believes in the holy book the Quran as is said in chapter 4:24
‘4:24 (Asad) And [forbidden to you are] all married women other than those whom you rightfully possess [through wedlock]: this is God’s ordinance, binding upon you. But lawful to you are all [women] beyond these, for you to seek out, offering them of your possessions, taking them in honest wedlock, and not in fornication. And unto those with whom you desire to enjoy marriage, you shall give the dowers due to them; but you will incur no sin if, after [having agreed upon] this lawful due, you freely agree with one another upon anything [else]: behold, God is indeed all-knowing, wise”.
Introduction to Muslim Wedding
Marriage in Islam is viewed as a religious obligation, a contract between the couple and Allah. It is a formal, binding contract that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom and the bride or other parties involved in marriage proceedings. Once the couple has agreed to marry, the groom will give the dowry (Mahar). Imam will have the couple sign the marriage contract, followed by vows and blessings and the marriage ceremony.
Dowry (Mahr)
The marriage contract includes a mahr—a formal statement specifying the monetary amount the groom will give the bride. There are two parts to the mahr: a prompt due before the marriage is consummated and a deferred amount given to the bride throughout her life. The deferred amount can be a small sum—a formality—or an actual gift of money, land, jewelry, or even an education. The gift belongs to the bride to use as she pleases unless the marriage breaks up before consummation. The mahr is considered the bride’s security and guarantee of freedom within the marriage.
Marriage Contract and Ceremony (Nikah)
The marriage contract is signed in a nikah ceremony in front of Imam, in which the groom or his representative proposes to the bride in front of at least two witnesses, stating the details of the mahr. The bride and groom demonstrate their free will by repeating the word qabul (“I accept,” in Arabic) three times. Then the couple and two male witnesses sign the contract, making the marriage legal according to civil and religious law. Following traditional Islamic customs, the bride and groom may share a piece of sweet fruit, such as a date. If men and women are separated for the ceremony, a male representative called a wali acts in the bride’s behalf during the nikah.
Vows and Blessings
The Imam may add an additional religious ceremony following the nikah, which usually includes a recitation of the Fatihah—the first chapter of the Quran—and durud (blessings). It is not necessary for Muslim couples to recite vows; rather, they can listen to the Imam as he speaks about the meaning of marriage and their responsibilities to each other and to Allah. However, If Muslim brides and grooms prefer to say vows, they can say these common recitations:
Bride: “I, (bride’s name) offer you myself in marriage in accordance with the instructions of the Holy Quran and the Holy Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him. I pledge, in honesty and with sincerity, to be for you an obedient and faithful wife.”
Groom: “I pledge, in honesty and sincerity, to be for you a faithful and helpful husband.”
The Wife’s Rights Over her Husband
1. The mahr (dowry). This is the money to which the wife is entitled by her husband when the marriage contract is completed or when the marriage is consummated. It is a right which the man is obliged to pay to the woman. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr (obligatory bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart” [al-Nisaa’ 4:4]
The prescription of the mahr demonstrates the seriousness and importance of the marriage contract and is a token of respect and honour to the woman.
The mahr is not a condition or essential part of the marriage-contract, according to the majority of fuqahaa (poor people); rather it is one of the consequences of the contract. If the marriage contract is done without any mention of the mahr, it is still valid, according to the consensus of the majority, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“There is no sin on you, if you divorce women while yet you have not touched (had sexual relation with) them, nor appointed unto them their Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage)” [al-Baqarah 2:236]
The fact that divorce is permitted before consummation of the marriage or before stipulating the mahr indicates that it is permissible not to stipulate the mahr in the marriage contract.
If the mahr is stipulated, it becomes obligatory upon the husband; if it is not stipulated, then he must give the mahr that is given to women of similar status to his wife.
2. The scholars of Islam have agreed that it is obligatory for husbands to spend on their wives, on the condition that the wife makes herself available to her husband. If she refuses him or rebels, then she is not entitled to that spending.
What is meant by spending, is providing what the wife needs for food and accommodation. She has the right to these things even if she is rich because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“but the father of the child shall bear the cost of the mother’s food and clothing on a reasonable basis” [al-Baqarah 2:233]
“Let the rich man spend according to his means; and the man whose resources are restricted, let him spend according to what Allaah has given him” [al-Talaaq 65:7]
It was narrated from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah (GOD) (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said in his Farewell Sermon:
“Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and intercourse with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have rights over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed [i.e., not let them into the house] whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner” (Narrated by Muslim, 1218)
3. Accommodation is one of the wife’s rights, which means that her husband should prepare for her accommodation according to his means and ability. Allah (God) says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Lodge them (the divorced women) where you dwell, according to your means” [al-Talaaq 65:6]
4. Kind treatment: The husband must have a good attitude towards his wife and be kind to her, and offer her everything that may soften her heart towards him because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“and live with them honourably” [al-Nisaa’ 4:19]
“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable” [al-Baqarah 2:228]
5. Prohibiting hitting or beating the wife:
This is one of the basic principles of Islam. Because harming others is illegal (haram) in Islam. It was narrated from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said in his Farewell Sermon:
“Fear Allah concerning women! Verily you have taken them on the security of Allah, and be with them has been made lawful unto you by words of Allah. You too have rights over them, and that they should not allow anyone to sit on your bed [i.e., not let them into the house] whom you do not like. But if they do that, you can chastise them but not severely. Their rights upon you are that you should provide them with food and clothing in a fitting manner” (Narrated by Muslim, 1218)
The husband’s rights over his wife.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them [al-Baqarah 2:228]
These rights include:
- The obligation of obedience. Allaah has made the man a qawwaam (protector and maintainer) of the woman by directing and taking care of her, just as guardians take care of their charges, by virtue of the physical and mental faculties that Allaah has given only to men and the financial obligations that He has enjoined upon them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allaah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means” [al-Nisaa’ 4:34] - Making herself available to her husband. One of the rights that the husband has over his wife is that he should be able to enjoy her (physically). If he marries a woman and she is able to have intercourse, she is obliged to submit herself to him according to the contract, if he asks her. That is after he gives her the immediate mahr, and gives her some time – two or three days if she asks for that – to sort herself out, because that is something that she needs, and because that is not too long and is customary.
- Not admitting anyone whom the husband dislikes. One of the rights that the husband has over his wife is that she should not permit anyone whom he dislikes to enter his house. Your rights over your women are that they should not let anyone whom you dislike sit on your bed and they should not let anyone whom you dislike entering your house. Their rights over you are that you should feed and clothe them well.”
- Not going out of the house except with the husband’s permission. One of the rights of the husband over his wife is that she should not go out of the house except with his permission.
- The wife should treat her husband in a good manner because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable” [al-Baqarah 2:228]
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