What are the essential conditions of a Muslim marriage?

Last updated on May 12, 2022

There are a few essential steps that need to be followed to make the marriage valid1:

Proposal and Acceptance

There has to be a proposal made by or on behalf of one person and it has to be accepted by the other for a valid marriage.

Consent

Consent is a very important criteria for a marriage and the criteria for consent changes according to the different schools of law.

Witnesses

Witnesses are those people who are present at the marriage and can state that it took place. They are an important requirement for a valid muslim marriage.

Prohibited Relationship

Some relationships within a family and extended family are prohibited, meaning, one cannot marry these people as such relationships are prohibited under custom. There are strict prohibitions in muslim law which have to be followed.

  1. Mulla, D. F., Sir. (n.d.). Principles of Mahomedan Law (20th ed.) p.331.[]

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 4 / 5. Vote count: 5

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Please share your feedback about this post!

Sharing feedback will help us improve our content. Tell us how!

If you want to keep your feedback confidential, please mention it in your feedback. If you have a question, please ask us in the comments or Ask Nyaaya sections.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Have a question you want to ask our legal experts?

Related Resources

Mutual Divorce in Muslim Marriage

Both you and your spouse can divorce each other if you both do not want to continue in the marriage and wish to end all marital obligations.

Guide on Registration of Inter-religious Marriages

This guide summarizes the legal and procedural aspects of entering into an inter-religious (special) marriage,  including giving notice of the marriage, performing the marriage, and obtaining the marriage certificate.

What is the procedure for a marriage by a Marriage Registrar?

A marriage performed by a Marriage Registrar has multiple stages, including the issuing of notice, performance and registration of marriage.

How can minors marry under Christian Law?

Under Christian law, a minor is defined as someone below the age of 21 years, and is not a widow or widower.

What is the procedure for a marriage by a Licensed Minister of Religion?

A marriage performed by a Marriage Registrar has multiple stages, including the issuing of notice, performance and registration of marriage.

Process Of Registration of Inter-Religious Marriage Under The Act

The registration process for a Special Marriage involves giving notice to the Marriage Officer, signing a declaration, etc.