The Wedding Ceremony (Nikaah)
Components
1 – Consent: ‘Aishah(R) asked Prophet
Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi was sallam) if
women must be asked for their permission of
marriage. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
alayhi was sallam) replied, "Yes. " She said,
‘The virgin is asked for her permission but
she gets shy. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
alayhi was sallam) said, "Her silence is her
permission. " (Bukhari and Muslim)
2 – The Wallee (Woman’s Guardian): Prophet
Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi was sallam) said,
"There is no nikaah except with a wallee.
" ( Ahmad , Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi)
3 – Two Witnesses: Prophet Muhammad
(sallallahu alayhi was sallam) said, "There is no
marriage except with a wallee and
trustworthy witnesses. " (Sahih- Bayhaqee)
Also, "There is no marriage except with a
wallee and two witnesses. " (Sahih Al-Jaami’)
4 – The Mahr (Dowry): Allah says (what
means): "And give to the women their dowry
with a good heart, but if they out of their
own good pleasure remit any part of it to you,
take it and enjoy it without fear of any harm.
" (Al-Nisa4:4) The mahr can be of any amount,
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi was
sallam) said, "Look for one even if it was an
iron ring. " (Bukhari and Muslim)
The woman is not obliged to give the man
anything at the time of the wedding, as is
done in some cultures.
Acts to be Avoided
We should be careful to not act as the
disbelievers do regarding their mixing of men
and women, wearing tuxedos and white
wedding gowns, exchanging rings, kissing in
public, etc. Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
alayhi was sallam) said, "Whoever resembles a
people is one of them. " (Abu Dawood) —