Marriage

Booking your Marriage Ceremony

Online booking form here

A Marriage Booking Form can be downloaded here.

You must make a booking to register for marriage before we can arrange an Islamic Marriage Ceremony (Nikah).

Registering means arranging a face-to-face meeting with our registration team, stating who you are, and giving your partner’s full name, date of birth, age, profession and address with all required proofs. Bookings cannot be taken by proxy and appointments can only be booked directly by either partner or the guardian of the bride. All associated fees and documentation will be required at this meeting.

We are normally only able to give appointments at least two weeks after initial contact.

Documents Required

It is essential to bring the following documents for the meeting for both groom and bride:

  • Original Civil Marriage Certificate
  • Conversion Certificate for new Muslims
  • Islamic divorce or Absolute Decree (if either partner has previously been married)
  • Signed Statutory Declaration (Affidavit) (applicable only to non-Muslim Brides)

Please note that witnesses are also required to bring their proof of identity, preferably passports.

Proof of Name, Age & Nationality

  • Valid passport  – or –
  • National identity card from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland – or –
  • Certificate of registration or naturalisation

Proof of Address

  • Valid full UK driving licence – or –
  • Utility bill from the last 3 months – or –
  • Bank or building society statement from the last month – or –
  • Council tax bill from the last 12 months – or –
  • Current tenancy agreement

Booking Fee

There is an administrative cost for the marriage service and the full fee must be paid at the meeting. This fee includes the issuance of two original certificates.  The current fee is £150 and this should be checked prior to booking. There may be additional charges for performing ceremonies at alternative venues.

If you need to cancel your ceremony date for the nikah, this must be done 7 days before the set date. If the appointment is not cancelled 7 days in advance the fee you have paid will not be refundable.

 

Marriage Ceremony (Nikah)

The nikah is a Religious Islamic Marriage Ceremony in which a contract is concluded according to Islamic (Shari’ah) Law between a Muslim male and female in which they both willingly agree to enter into the institution of marriage.

The marriage involves obligations and rights of both bride and groom toward each as other ordained by Allah and His messenger, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Fulfilling the terms of this contract is a religious obligation and duty rewarded in this world and hereafter whilst violation of it constitutes a religious sin.

The mosque offers the meeting room at its premises, not the prayer area, which has a capacity of 20 people. All persons attending the ceremony are kindly requested to observe the Islamic tradition of dressing in keeping with Islamic values. The management reserves the right to refuse admission to anyone who does not comply with this request.

Bride and Groom

The bride and groom should both enter into the contract of marriage willingly, without any coercion. The contract of marriage is a simple declaration made in the past tense. Hence when asked whether they have accepted their partner in marriage, they will be required to say the have (in the past tense). This will be explained by the Imaam conducting the ceremony.

It is necessary for the groom to be a Muslim. The bride can however also be from the other monotheistic faiths, but this can have implications on the family structures. This would require a further form to be completed and attested.  

Guardian and Witnesses

The conditions of marriage are four: the willing consent of both parties, two upright witnesses, a wali (guardian) for the bride (usually the father), and an agreed mahr (dowry). If this is all in order, specific verses are recited, supplications made and well as advice given to both parties and the guests. The vows are taken by the couple and this concludes the ceremony.

The nikah ceremony is performed by an appointed Imaam of Islamic Centre Edgware in the presence of two male witnesses. The Centre can not provide these witnesses so it is essential to arrange for two upright male witnesses to also attend. They will also need to bring identification with them.

The guardian for the bride must also be present. In the absence of the father (if he is deceased), the paternal grandfather can take this role. In the absence of the grandfather, then this responsibility falls upon her brother even if he is younger than the bride, but he must be mature. If she does not have any father, or grandfather or brother, or even paternal uncles, then it is possible for an upright leader in a community to act as the guardian (wali). This would require him to ensure that the marriage is in the best interests of the bride.

Mahr

Mahr (dowry) is the amount to be paid by the groom to the bride at the time of marriage (nikah). It is one of the conditions of marriage and is a gift from him to her to spend as she wishes. There is no specific amount set for the dowry and is something that suggested by the bride and mutually agreed upon. It can be cash, jewellery or any other valuable gift. The mahr is the right of the wife, and it is not permitted for her father or anyone else to take it except with her approval. If, later, divorce takes place for the usual acceptable reasons, the bride would be entitled to keep the mahr. But if the bride seeks a divorce which the husband does not wish for, she is to return him the money and seek what is known as a khul (separational divorce).

The sum for mahr would vary according to local customs, but it is recommended for the sums to be reasonably small.

It should be noted that a Muslim woman who has money of her own, is not obliged to spend it on her husband or family, but rather that responsibility falls upon the Muslim husband support his wife and children. Therefore it is important to note that the dowry does not belong to the husband, the husband’s family, nor does it belong to the father of the bride or his family. The dowry is to remain with the bride for her to use when she wishes.

There are two ways of presenting the mahr to the bride. One is to hand it over at the time of the marriage, in which case it is known as mahr mu’ajjal, or promptly given. The other is called mahr mu’khar, or delayed.

Arbitration and Adjudication

All differences between the parties pertaining to this contract, its interpretation and its implementation should be amicably resolved between themselves. Failing satisfactory resolution of differences, both parties should undertake to settle their differences through family consultation or through professionals who offer such services. If not mutually resolved, in matters of child(ren), custody and property possession/division the decision of a trusted Islamic Authority should be obtained.

Non UK Residents

Muslim brides and bridegrooms who are not permanent residents in the UK and/or who have dual nationality are advised to consult their respective Embassies to comply with any regulations and/or requirements of their home country, if any, before entering into a UK marriage contract.

Summary Tasklist

  1. Arrange date for nikah with the Islamic Centre
  2. Complete request form and ensure Booking Fee is paid
  3. Bring Civil Marriage Certificate, passports and proofs of address for Bride, Groom and witnesses
  4. If relevant, bring Divorce Certificate and/or New Muslim Certificate
  5. Ensure that Guardian and witnesses attend ceremony