Fatwa ID: 07508
Answered by: Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar
Question:
“Is the physical presence of the groom compulsory at the time of Nikah, or can a representative (Wakeel) perform the Nikah on his behalf?
What is the view of Islamic scholars on this issue?
– Are there any instances where the Prophet Muhammad SAW or his companions authorized a representative to perform Nikah on behalf of the groom?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
No, it is not necessary for the groom to be physically present. A representative is allowed to perform the Nikah on behalf of the groom as long as the representative is appointed by the groom himself and all the other conditions of representation are met.
This is proven by the fact that the Prophet (saw) married Umm Habibah (ra) while she was in Abyssinia and made ‘Amr bin Umayyah his representative since the Prophet (saw) couldn’t be there himself.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Alimah Saniyah bint Asrar
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
العناية شرح الهداية – بهامش فتح القدير ط الحلبي ٨/٨٣
وَكَذَا الْوَكِيلُ بِالنِّكَاحِ إذَا زَوَّجَهُ امْرَأَةً بِأَكْثَرَ مِنْ مَهْرِ مِثْلِهَا جَازَ عِنْدَهُ؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَا بُدَّ مِنْ الْإِضَافَةِ إلَى الْمُوَكِّلِ فِي الْعَقْدِ فَلَا تَتَمَكَّنُ هَذِهِ التُّهْمَةُ، وَلَا كَذَلِكَ الْوَكِيلُ بِالشِّرَاءِ؛ لِأَنَّهُ يُطْلَقُ الْعَقْدُ.
«في حديث عقبة بن عامر ﵁ أن رسول الله ﷺ قال:»إذا [أ] نكح الوليان فالأول أحق«قال:»فيه دلالة على أن الوكالة في النكاح جائزة. . . .«مع:
»توكيل النبي ﷺ عمرو بن أمية الضمري فزوجه أم حبيبة بنت أبي سفيان ﵂«.
