How many witnesses are required for nikah?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It is a requirement for the validity of nikah that it be conducted in the presence of two adult males or one adult male and two adult female witnesses, all of whom are Muslim, sane and free (the word ‘free’ excludes slaves). These witnesses are separate from the two parties involved in contracting the nikah.

Since the proxy is involved as a representative of the girl, he cannot act as a witness.^{[1] [2]  [3]}

Nikah by proxy can take place in the following methods:

1) Appointing a representative over the phone.

2) Appointing a representative by a letter, email or text message.

Arranging a nikah by proxy via a telephone:

An example of arranging a nikāh by proxy is that the woman in a foreign country, for example Malaysia, delegates a person as her representative to get her married to you in Australia. She should have two people in Malaysia physically witnessing the act of delegating the representative to get her married to you in Australia.

Thereafter, in the presence of two adult Muslim male witnesses or one adult Muslim male and two adult Muslim females, you will then propose to her representative to solemnise the marriage, her representative will accept the proposal in that same sitting. This will be the correct method to perform a marriage by proxy.

Arranging a nikah by letter:

The woman from Malaysia sends a letter/ e-mail to Australia to a specific person appointing him to act on her behalf. She will have two people to physically witness the writing of delegating her representative.

You will propose to the representative in the presence of two adult Muslim male witnesses or one adult Muslim male and two adult Muslim females and the representative of the woman will accept the proposal.

An example of a letter wherein proxy takes place:

I…………., appoint ………………. as my representative to marry me to …………….., in the presence of two witnesses, namely ……………. and ……………..

All three will sign the document.

Note that the witnessing of the delegating of the representative, is not necessary for the validity of nikāh. Rather, it is a matter of precaution, to avoid any future disputes or complications. Furthermore, the proposal of the nikāh can be by the proxy/representative or by the other party.

The agent representing any spouse can be anyone, including the father, grandfather, brother, uncle, sister of the girl etc. ^[4]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Abu ‘Umar Muhammad bin Zayn Patel

Student Darul Iftaa
South Africa

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

^[1]

اللباب في شرح الكتاب (3/ 3)

(ولا ينعقد نكاح المسلمين) بصيغة المثنى (إلا بحضور شاهدين حرين بالغين عاقلين مسلمين) سامعين معاً قولهما فاهمين كلامهما على المذهب كما في البحر

^[2]

النتف في الفتاوى للسغدي (1/ 270)

 (المتوفى: 461هـ)

شَرَائِط النِّكَاح الصَّحِي

وشرائط النِّكَاح الصَّحِيح الْمجمع على صِحَّته سَبْعَة

احدها رِضَاء الْمَرْأَة اذا كَانَت حرَّة بَالِغَة عَاقِلَة

وَالثَّانِي رِضَاء الْوَلِيّ اذا كَانَ الْوَلِيّ حرا بَالغا عَاقِلا مُسلما

وَالثَّالِث خلو مَا بَين الزَّوْجَيْنِ من الْحُرْمَة المؤبدة والموقته الَّتِي قدمنَا ذكرهَا

وَالرَّابِع الشُّهُود

وَالْخَامِس الْكَفَاءَة

وَالسَّادِس الْقُدْرَة على الْمهْر وَالنَّفقَة

وَالسَّابِع تولي العقد من الزَّوْجَيْنِ اَوْ من يَنُوب عَنْهُمَا من ولي اَوْ وَكيل اَوْ متكلف اَوْ مَا يقوم مقَام الْخطاب من كتاب اَوْ رِسَالَة

^[3]

بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع (2/ 253)

وَأَمَّا صِفَاتُ الشَّاهِدِ الَّذِي يَنْعَقِدُ بِهِ النِّكَاحُ وَهِيَ شَرَائِطُ تَحَمُّلِ الشَّهَادَةِ لِلنِّكَاحِ فَمِنْهَا: الْعَقْلُ وَمِنْهَا الْبُلُوغُ وَمِنْهَا الْحُرِّيَّةُ فَلَا يَنْعَقِدُ النِّكَاحُ بِحَضْرَةِ الْمَجَانِينَ وَالصِّبْيَانِ وَالْمَمَالِيكِ قِنًّا كَانَ الْمَمْلُوكُ أَوْ مُدَبَّرًا أَوْ مُكَاتَبً

^[4]

أحكام الشرعية في الأحوال الشخصية

يجوز للزوج وللزوجة أن يتوليا عقد نكاحهما بأنفسهما وأن يوكلا به من شاءا