Planning a Nikah ceremony is one that is highly regarded within the Islamic religion.
For instance, though the Nikah ceremony traditionally takes place in a mosque, with the leader or imam of the mosque officiating the ceremony, today, it is common to have the Nikah either at a venue or at the bride’s house.
Additionally, while the Nikah is supposed to be as simple as possible, so as not to place a financial burden on the couple, the event can become quite glamorous as people tend to mix Islamic and Western traditions.
The Meaning of the Nikah Ceremony
The Nikah is a religious ceremony for a Muslim couple to be legally wed under Islamic law, and is when the couple officially says “I accept.” It’s a Prophetic tradition and the only permissible way that a man and woman can be married.
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What’s more, it’s not permitted for a couple to be intimate without a Nikah, so the ceremony legitimizes the relationship in front of God. Marriage in Islam is a blessing and it is considered a very important part of faith.
Nikah Ceremony Requirements
A Nikah generally takes place in a mosque, a rented venue, or at home. In the event that it’s held in a mosque, it’s likely that men and women will be segregated during the ceremony. In that case, the Wali (the father of the bride) can accept the Nikah and marriage contract on behalf of the bride. However, if the Nikah takes place anywhere else, segregation often depends on the couple’s culture or level of religiosity of the family.
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Music will also depend on where the Nikah is held: It’s uncommon to have music at a Nikah, especially if it’s held at the mosque. Since it’s a religious event, music and dancing aren’t too common. However, some families might have music if the event isn’t at the mosque or have soft background music after the ceremony is complete.
The six ceremony requirements of a Nikah Ceremony
The Proposal
As with any marriage, someone has to propose for the Nikah process to start. Hence, the woman or the man can make the proposal as long as the intention is for marriage. While it’s often more common for a man to propose in many cultures, in Islam, the woman (or her family) can propose, as was the case with Khadijah, the first wife of the Prophet, peace, and blessings upon him.
The Acceptance
The Qubool is the acceptance of the proposal, and it’s important to know that you don’t have to say yes right away. During the time between the proposal and the acceptance, the couple can meet as many times as they like to get to know each other, as long as the meeting takes place in public or within close proximity of a chaperone.
The Witnesses
For the Nikah, there has to be a minimum of two male witnesses that can attest to the fact that both the bride and groom say “I do” or “Qubool” of their own free will. That’s because for the ceremony to take place, it must be the bride and the groom who agree, without any force from family members or anyone else.
The Mahr
The Mahr is an obligatory gift from the groom to the bride, that the bride or her family can request. It’s typically a lump sum of money that the bride chooses, but the bride can ask for a trip, gold, or anything else she wishes. (Of course, she is encouraged to be fair and keep her future husband’s income in mind.) The Mahr is also symbolic of the responsibility the man has for providing for and taking care of his wife.
The Wali
The Wali is the father of the bride who “gives away” his daughter. The Wali gets consent from the bride and does not give her away without her permission. If the father is deceased or there is some reason that he cannot “walk her down the aisle,” so to say, then another male guardian or relative can take on that role.
The Nikah
Once all the requirements are met, anyone can officiate the Nikah ceremony which involves the bride and groom repeating the word “Qubool” or “I accept” three times. 
Following that, the couple and the two male witnesses are required to sign the contract, which can be provided by the imam or the couple. The signing of the contract is what makes the marriage legal according to civil and religious law.
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