Fatwa ID: 07091

Answered by: Maulana Abdul Malik

Question:

My question is regarding nikaah without the boy (groom) being present at the place of nikaah where the girl and her family are.

What is the Islamic way of doing this?

Is it saheeh to do a nikaah if the boy appoints a representative at the place of the girl? Who can the boy appoint as a representative (wakil) ?

What is the rules for online nikaah via zoom?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

A marriage in Islam is contracted with proposal and acceptance. It is a condition for the marriage to be valid that the proposal and acceptance takes place in the presence of two Muslim adult male witnesses or one adult Muslim man and two adult Muslim women. (Al lubaab fi sharh al Kitab, pg 6, vol 4)[1]

Both proposal and acceptance can be conveyed via a representative (wakeel). Thus, it would be permissible for a boy to appoint a representative to convey the proposal and acceptance on his behalf at the place of marriage in the presence of the girl, her family and the witnesses. (Bada’i al Sana’i, pg 340, vol 3)[2]

With regards to marriages being conducted online via zoom, one of the conditions for marriage to be valid in the shariah is for the proposal and acceptance to be done in the same place of sitting (Majlis). So, the witnesses must hear the proposal and acceptance in that same place of sitting. (Bada’i al Sana’i, pg 343, vol 3)[3]

If a marriage conducted online is devoid of these conditions it would not be permissible. However, if a representative is appointed on behalf of the groom to sit in the Majlis and convey the proposal or acceptance it would be permissible.

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[2] ثم النكاح كما ينعقد بهذه الألفاظ بطريق الأصالة ينعقد بها بطريق النيابة بالوكالة والرسالة لأن تصرف الوكيل كتصرف الموكل و كلام الرسول ككلام المرسل

[3] وأما اللذي يرجع إلى مكان العقد فهو اتحاد المجلس إذا كان العاقدان حاضرين وهو أن يكون الإيجاب والقبول في مجلس واحد حتى لو اختلف المجلس لا ينعقد النكاح

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Maulana Abdul Malik

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham