Q. How old do I need to be to have my nikah performed?
A. The minimum age for marriage in the United Kingdom – which includes Nikah – is 18 years old. This standard is expressed across other European countries as well.
Q. Can I get married if I don’t have a Wali?
A. Scholars have different views on this matter. Some argue that a wali is absolutely necessary and without one a nikah will not be valid. Others argue that it’s not fundamental to the nikah and a nikah will be valid without the presence of a wali. We follow the Hanafi madhab and can proceed without a wali if there is a legitimate reason for not having them present or involved.
Q. How many witnesses do I need for a nikah?
A. You need a minimum of 2 witnesses for a nikah to be valid. The witnesses need to be Muslim, classified as adults and able to understand what they are being witnesses for or to. There’s a misconception that witnesses NEED to be from both the brides side and the grooms side. This is incorrect, only 2 witnesses are required regardless of whether they are from the grooms side, brides side or a third party.
Q. Do you do secret nikahs?
A. In short, no. Some scholars argue that publicly announcing the nikah is necessary for validity. But often when people want a secret nikah theres always a story behind it and its problematic.
Q. How much should the mahr be?
A. The mahr is the brides right according to Hanafi fiqh. As such, the amount of mahr should be discussed with the bride and agreed with her knowledge and consent. There is no maximum figure, but Hanafi scholars stipulate a minimum amount of 31 grams of silver – or the equivalent value. Whatever mahr is agreed, it should be in consultation with the bride or her wali and should be reasonable taking account of the grooms financial capability.
Q. Does mahr have to be money?
A. No, mahr can be anything of material value. The only requirement is that it meets the minimum value threshold of 31 grams.
Q. Can the mahr be forfeited?
A. Yes, either by the bride or her wali. As mahr is the brides right she can dismiss any requirement for it.
Q. When does the mahr need to be paid?
A. There are three ways in which the mahr can be paid; in full on the day of the nikah, delayed to be paid at an agreed time/date (referred to as muajjal) or a combination of the both where part of the mahr is paid immediately and the rest is delayed.
Again, mahr is the brides right so any agreements regarding deferred or delayed payments need to be discussed and agreed with her or her wali.