What the nikah is
At its heart, the nikah is a contract. It is formed by an offer (ijab) and an acceptance (qabul) — the proposal and its agreement — made willingly by both parties. Once the contract is agreed, witnessed and (where required) registered, the couple is married.
The ceremony is usually led by an imam, sheikh or an authorised officiant (a ma’dhun in some countries), but the essential elements are the consent of the couple and the contract itself.
The mahr
Central to the nikah is the mahr — a gift given by the groom to the bride, which becomes her property alone. It can be money, jewellery, property or something of personal meaning, and the amount is agreed between the families beforehand and recorded in the contract.
The mahr is a right of the bride, not a transaction between families. Its form and size vary widely by culture and means.
Who needs to be there
- The couple — whose mutual consent is the foundation of the contract.
- An officiant — an imam, sheikh or authorised registrar who conducts and validates the ceremony.
- Witnesses — traditionally two, to attest to the agreement.
- A wali — in many traditions, a guardian (often the bride’s father) who represents the bride’s interests.
The nikah within the celebration
Some couples hold the nikah quietly, weeks before the main party; others make it the formal heart of the wedding day, followed by the walima feast and celebration. There is no single right order — it depends on family, country and preference.
Read the broader Muslim wedding guide for how the nikah connects to the mahr and walima, or the Arab wedding guide for the henna night and zaffe that often surround it.