Fatwa ID: 07820

 

 

Answered by Alimah Humairah Badshah

 

 

Question:

 

 

Salam respected Mufti, I had a humble question whether it is a requirement that the two witnesses of Nikah are able to visually see a bride at the time of Nikah. In other words, let’s say a bride is in the same physical space but behind a curtain/partition, and the witnesses clearly hears the ijab and qabul (knowing that they are witnessing a Nikah). Is the Nikah valid or should they be able to visually witness as well besides just hearing it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

Answer:

 

 

Wa’alaykumussalaam,

 

 

It is only required that the two witnesses are not confused as to which lady is the bride. If she is present and veiled, it is sufficient to gesture at her. It is more precautionary to uncover her face if there are no non-mahrams present, but it is not necessary. If she is behind a curtain or partition, it is allowed as long as she is the only woman behind the curtain, so that there is no confusion as to who is speaking.

 

 

Only Allah knows best. 

Written by Alimah Humairah Badshah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

 

 

References:

 

 

أَشَارَ بِقَوْلِهِ فِيمَا مَرَّ وَلَا الْمَنْكُوحَةُ مَجْهُولَةٌ إلَى مَا ذَكَرَهُ فِي الْبَحْرِ هُنَا بِقَوْلِهِ: وَلَا بُدَّ مِنْ تَمْيِيزِ الْمَنْكُوحَةِ عِنْدَ الشَّاهِدَيْنِ لِتَنْتَفِي الْجَهَالَةُ، فَإِنْ كَانَتْ حَاضِرَةً مُنْتَقِبَةً كَفَى الْإِشَارَةُ إلَيْهَا وَالِاحْتِيَاطُ كَشْفُ وَجْهِهَا

Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fitr, https://shamela.ws) v.3 p.21

 

فَإِنْ لَمْ يَرَوْا شَخْصًا وَسَمِعُوا كَلَامَهَا مِنْ الْبَيْتِ، إنْ كَانَتْ وَحْدَهَا فِيهِ جَازَ، وَلَوْ مَعَهَا أُخْرَى فَلَا لِعَدَمِ زَوَالِ الْجَهَالَةِ وَكَذَا إذَا وَكَّلَتْ بِالتَّزْوِيجِ فَهُوَ عَلَى هَذَا

Radd Al-Muhtaar (Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fitr, https://shamela.ws) v.3 p.22