Fatwa #2703328 September 2013Pakistan
Can nikah take place without witnesses?
Question
If a girl and boy have realistic intention of nikah and they express thier views to each other and there was no witness at that time and they also do foreplay and enjoy sex without intercourse took place will this nikah be consider a valid nikah or not; futher more I am being told that If in this case intercourse take place then it is a valid nikah please guide in this matter.
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
A nikah is valid only if it is conducted with:
- Iejaab (proposal for nikah)
- Qubool (acceptance of the nikah proposal)
- The nikah should be performed in the presence of two witnesses (2 men or 1 man and 2 women who are muslims and are mature)
A boy and a girl expressing their attachment for each other does not constitute a nikah
All forms of contact and relationships befor marriage is haram and is a major sin.
النكاح ينعقد بالايجاب و القبول(القدورى ص210 سعيد)
اما ركن النكاح فهو الايجاب و القبول(بدائع ج2 ص485 احياء التراث)(تحفة الفقهاء ج2 ص176 دار التراث)
فاذا تزوجها بغير شهود و اشهد على ذالك بعد ذالك فلا يجوز (الاصل للامام محمد ج10 ص211 ابن حزم )
لا نكاح الا بشهود احرار مسلمين بالغين شاهدين او اكثر او رجل و امراتين (شرح مختصر الطحاوي ج4 ص243 دار السراج)
قال عامة العلماء ان الشهادة شرط جواز النكاح....عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم انه نهى عن نكاح السر و النهىي عن السر يكون امرا بالاعلان (بدائع ج2 ص522 احياء التراث)
Fatawa Mahmoodiyyah page 162 volume 16 (M.Mahmoodiyyah)
Fatawa Darul uloom Zakriyah page 557 volume 3 (Zam Zam
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Ismail Dawoodjee
Student Darul Iftaa
Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai