Nikaah Solemnized By Proxy

QUESTION:

What are the requirements of Nikaah being valid in a case where the prospective spouses are based in different countries?

ANSWER:

In principle, if the boy and girl are not in one place/country, then to perform Nikaah is not permissible since the Ijaab (offer) and Qabool (acceptance) have to be in one place with a  minimum of two witnesses. A simple way to overcome this issue is to perform Nikaah by proxy. The details of which is as follows:

Amr and Zainab intend making Nikaah. Amr delegates a person as his representative to get him married to Zainab in India. He should have two people witnessing the act of delegating the representative to get him married to Zainab in India. In the presence of two adult, Muslim, male witnesses, or one adult, Muslim male and two adult, Muslim females. Amr’s representative will then propose to Zainab or her representative in India on his behalf, and in order to solemnize the marriage, Zainab, or her representative, will accept the proposal. This will be the correct method to perform a marriage by proxy via telephone. Now, coming to the queried scenario, If the method explained above is carried out, then it will be permissible to make the Imaam the representative and the Nikaah will be valid.

(قَوْلُهُ: اتِّحَادُ الْمَجْلِسِ) قَالَ فِي الْبَحْرِ: فَلَوْ اخْتَلَفَ الْمَجْلِسُ لَمْ يَنْعَقِدْ
(رد المحتار على الدر المختار 3/14)
(وَ) شُرِطَ (حُضُورُ) شَاهِدَيْنِ (حُرَّيْنِ) أَوْ حُرٌّ وَحُرَّتَيْنِ (مُكَلَّفَيْنِ سَامِعَيْنِ قَوْلَهُمَا مَعًا) عَلَى الْأَصَحِّ
(الدر المختار مع رد المحتار 3/21-23)
(قَوْلُهُ: حُرَّيْنِ إلَخْ) قَالَ فِي الْبَحْرِ: وَشُرِطَ فِي الشُّهُودِ: الْحُرِّيَّةُ, وَالْعَقْلُ, وَالْبُلُوغُ, وَالْإِسْلَامُ
(رد المحتار على الدر المختار 3/22)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 18 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1448 / 01 October 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb