Secret Nikaah
QUESTION:
I reside in South Africa and my prospective spouse is from the UK. He visited South Africa to meet my family in the hope that our Nikaah can be solemnized, but we would live separately until he is able to secure a house for us in the UK. My father denied the request to perform Nikaah during his visit, on the grounds that he is not financially stable and that he should secure his own home first.
Realistically, that would take at least a year and it has been extremely difficult for us both to cut contact with each other, so we are living in sin and guilt every day. Would it be acceptable for us to marry secretly so as to to relieve us of this sin, and make Nikaah again when the conditions set by my father have been met?
ANSWER:
The Darul Ifta is not in favour of secret Nikaahs. Furthermore, Fuqaha (Jurists) state that there should be compatibility in wealth between the boy and girl. Compatibility in wealth is that the husband has the ability to give Mahr and Nafaqah (expenses) to the wife for a month. Nafaqah refers to food, clothing and shelter for the wife. You have stated in your query that the prospective suitor does not have any arrangements for accommodation. Hence, he does not yet fit the criteria of being compatible with you in wealth. If this is the case and you do perform a secret Nikaah, your father, who is the Wali, has the right to annul the Nikaah.
(وتعتبر) الكفاءة للزوم النكاح خلافا لمالك …(ومالا) بأن يقدر على المعجل ونفقة شهر لو غير محترف
(الدر المختار و حاشية ابن عابدين 3/90)
فالنكاح الذي الكفاءة فيه شرط لزومه هو إنكاح المرأة نفسها من غير رضا الأولياء لا يلزم حتى لو زوجت نفسها من غير كفء من غير رضا الأولياء لا يلزم. وللأولياء حق الاعتراض؛ لأن في الكفاءة حقا للأولياء؛ لأنهم ينتفعون بذلك ألا ترى أنهم يتفاخرون بعلو نسب الختن، ويتعيرون بدناءة نسبه، فيتضررون بذلك، فكان لهم أن يدفعوا الضرر عن أنفسهم بالاعتراض كالمشتري إذا باع الشقص المشفوع، ثم جاء الشفيع كان له أن يفسخ البيع، ويأخذ المبيع بالشفعة دفعا للضرر عن نفسه كذا هذا.
ولو كان التزويج برضاهم يلزم حتى لا يكون لهم حق الاعتراض؛ لأن التزويج من المرأة تصرف من الأهل في محل هو خالص حقها، وهو نفسها، وامتناع اللزوم كان لحقهم المتعلق بالكفاءة، فإذا رضوا، فقد أسقطوا حق أنفسهم، وهم من أهل الإسقاط، والمحل قابل للسقوط، فيسقط.
(بدائع الصنائع 2/317)
Also, it is of utmost importance that you completely cut off relationship, communication, and contact with this person as he is a stranger, and you are committing a major sin by communicating with him. What Barakah will there be in a Nikaah which is commenced in an incorrect and sinful manner?!
ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani
Date: 25 Muharram 1447 / 21 July 2025
CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:
Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb