A short, dignified guide to the Nikkah — the *ijab* and *qubool*, the *mahr*, the witnesses, and how the ceremony differs across South Asian traditions.
The Baraat team3 May 20266 min read
A Nikkah is short. That's the first thing every guest at their first Muslim wedding is surprised by. The wedding contract — Nikkah literally means "marriage contract" — is signed in 20 minutes. The reception around it is hours, the food is a small empire, the mehndi the night before is a celebration, but the wedding itself is brief, intentional and dignified.
This guide walks through what happens at a Nikkah, with notes on how British Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian Muslim weddings each shape the day.
What is the Nikkah
The Nikkah is the legally and religiously binding marriage contract under Islamic law. It requires:
The bride and groom's consent (ijab and qubool — the proposal and the acceptance), said three times in front of witnesses
*A mahr*** — a dowry given by the groom to the bride; it is hers to keep, not the family's
Two adult Muslim witnesses (in most schools; the bride does not always have to be physically present in the same room — more on that below)
An officiant — usually an Imam or a Qazi
The contract itself is signed by the bride, the groom, both fathers (or guardians), and the witnesses. Once signed, the marriage is complete. The reception is celebration; the legal wedding has just happened.
For UK couples, the Nikkah is not automatically a UK civil marriage. You will need a separate registry signing — either the same day, or earlier — to be legally married in UK law. Most British Muslim couples do the registry in the morning and the Nikkah in the afternoon at the venue.
The Imam delivers a short sermon — usually verses from the Quran on marriage, family, mutual rights, and the seriousness of the contract. In modern UK weddings, this is often given in both English and Arabic so non-Arabic-speaking guests can follow.
2. Ijab and Qubool (5 min)
The Imam approaches the groom first and asks if he accepts the bride as his wife, on the mahr agreed in the contract. He says "Qubool hai" — "I accept" — three times.
The Imam then approaches the bride (or, in some traditions, her wakeel — a male representative who has been authorised by her in advance — though increasingly British Muslim brides are present in the room and respond directly). She says "Qubool hai" three times.
This is the wedding. From this moment, they are married.
3. The signing (5–10 min)
The marriage contract — the Nikkah Nama — is signed. Order:
The groom signs
The bride signs (or her father if she has signed earlier in private — common in Pakistani tradition)
The bride's father (or wali)
The two witnesses
The Imam attests
4. Dua (5 min)
A closing prayer for the couple. Everyone present cups their hands.
5. Khajoor (5 min)
Dates are distributed to everyone present — sometimes thrown by the groom into the crowd. The Prophet's marriages were celebrated with dates, and the tradition continues. After this, the couple takes congratulations.
Mahr — what it is, what it's not
The mahr is a dowry, paid by the groom to the bride at the time of marriage. It is hers, in her name, not the family's. It is the bride's financial security in the marriage.
Two amounts are agreed: the mu'ajjal (paid up front, often a token amount like £1,000 or £5,000), and the mu'akhkhar (deferred, paid later — sometimes amounts like £20,000–£100,000, payable on demand or in the event of divorce or death).
The mahr is private. Don't ask other couples what theirs was.
Where the bride sits
Practices vary across South Asian Muslim families:
Pakistani / Punjabi tradition — the bride is often not in the same room as the Nikkah signing. She is in a separate room with the women, and her wali signs on her behalf after she has given consent privately. The Imam comes to her room to confirm her qubool.
British Bangladeshi weddings increasingly have the bride sitting at the front of the Nikkah room, alongside the groom, and signing in person.
Indian Muslim (especially in Hyderabadi and Gujarati Muslim families) — usually has the bride in the same room.
There is no one right way. Talk to your Imam about what your family expects.
After the Nikkah — the reception
The reception that follows is called the Walima, traditionally hosted by the groom's family, often the next day. In British Muslim weddings, the Walima is sometimes folded into the same day as the Nikkah, and sometimes held a week later.
A modern British Muslim wedding programme often looks like:
Day 1: Mehndi — bride's family hosts, evening, women + men sometimes separated
Day 2 morning: Civil registry signing
Day 2 afternoon: Nikkah (often at the venue's main hall, or at a mosque)
Day 2 evening: Walima reception — the groom's family hosts the larger meal
What guests should know
Dress modestly. Long sleeves, covered legs, scarves available at the door for women if needed. Avoid clinging fabrics. Smart and elegant, not skin.
Mosques (and many Muslim wedding halls) are gender-segregated. Don't cross over without checking.
No alcohol. Most British Muslim wedding venues do not serve alcohol; some allow it in a separate room. Ask in advance, and don't show up with bottles.
No pork on the menu. Most weddings are fully halal. If the venue is mixed, the menu will be clearly labelled.
Cash gifts in an envelope are standard. Round numbers (£100, £200, £500) are fine in Muslim tradition; the Hindu/Sikh "odd-number" rule does not apply.
Photographs. Some Muslim families restrict photos in the Nikkah room to female photographers. Check before the day.
What couples wish they'd done
Most British Muslim couples a year out say:
*Hold the Nikkah somewhere intimate — the actual vows are private and dignified. Save the spectacle for the Walima*.
Have an Imam who explains in English. The khutbah is meaningful; let the room understand it.
Do the registry early. Doing the registry in the morning means the Nikkah can be unrushed.
*Don't argue about the mahr on the day. Agree it weeks in advance, written into the Nikkah Nama* before everyone is in the room.
A Nikkah is, in the end, a contract — and like all good contracts, the best ones are the ones you barely notice on the day, because everything was decided beforehand and everyone is calm.
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