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The marriage has to take place in the presence of:
- Two male witnesses or
- One male and two female witnesses.
These witnesses must be Muslims, adults and of sound mind. The Sunni School of Muslim law specifically requires two witnesses to present while the Shia School of Law does not require the presence of a witness in any matter regarding marriage.(( Mulla, D. F., Sir. (n.d.). Principles of Mahomedan Law (20th ed.) p.332.))
Aadam Judas Phiri
August 20, 2023
What is really the rationale for having two women as witnesses
Alka Manral
September 3, 2024
Two women witnesses are considered equal to one man per the Islamic personal law. The reasoning for this lies in the understanding that women’s memories were inferior to that of a man, and you would need two women to take over the place of one man.
While this is not true, no one has amended the muslim personal law to make it more gender neutral yet.
Faria
September 17, 2023
Is it valid if there is one male and one female witness in nikkah?
Alka Manral
September 2, 2024
If the parties are governed by Sunni law, then the nikah requires two male witnesses for validity purposes. If two men are not available, then, the law requires the presence of one male and two female witnesses for the completion of nikah formalities. However, if the parties married are governed by Shia law, there is no requirement of witnesses during marriage at all. Assuming the nikah you mentioned occured under Sunni law with one male and one female witness, then the marriage is not void (batil) marriage. Issues related to witnesses, like in this case, merely result in the marriage being considered as irregular (fasid) marriage. This irregularity is generally considered to be removed once the marriage is consummated and the parties are held to be bound by rights and duties that exist in a valid (sahih) marriage. If the marriage has not yet been consummated, then grounds exist for termination by either party since irregular marriages are voidable if they have not been consummated.
Meena Hussain
January 22, 2024
Can a Sunni Muslim have Shia Muslim as their nikkah witnesses
Alka Manral
May 30, 2024
Under the Sunni Law, the proposal and acceptance of Nikah must be made in the presence of two males or one male and two female witnesses who are sane, adult, and Muslim. Muslim here includes both Shias and Sunnis and thus even a shia Muslim is eligible to be a witness in Sunni nikkah.
Shakil shaikh
January 29, 2024
If there is only one witchness, then also marriage is valid or not?
Sikha
November 8, 2024
A minimum of two witnesses is required by law. They must be at least 18 years old, mentally sound, and free from marital disputes.
Murat Gulluoglu
October 14, 2024
Do the witnesses need to be related to the people marrying or can they be friends or acquaintances of the marrying people?