Nikah

The Nikah formalizes marriage in Islam as a contract rooted in mutual consent. Its essential elements generally include the willing consent of both the bride and groom, the presence of witnesses (traditionally two), the agreement of the mahr, and the proposal and acceptance spoken or assented to by both parties.

The mahr is a defining feature of the Nikah: it is an obligatory payment or gift from the groom to the bride, agreed upon beforehand, which becomes the bride's personal property and right. The amount and form of the mahr are negotiated and recorded in the nikahnama, the written marriage contract that both parties sign.

The ceremony often includes a sermon (khutbah) and Quranic recitation by the officiant, prayers for the couple, and the formal acceptance witnessed by family. Customs surrounding the Nikah vary widely across cultures and Islamic schools of thought; in the South Asian context it is frequently accompanied by other celebrations such as the mehendi, the walima (the wedding feast hosted by the groom's family), and regional festivities.