Agus Sofyan

Agus Sofyan

Affiliated with Islamic Center of Eastern Kentucky (ICEK), Prestonsburg, KY and Masjid Bilal Ibn Rabah, Lexington, KY.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم PROCESS OF MARRIAGE IN ISLAM Dr. Agus Sofyan

REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITION OF MARRIAGE CONTRACT: 1. Bride and Groom. Both are Muslims. (Note: Bride can be either present or not during Marriage contract; however, the bride should agree with the Marriage). 2. A Wali or male guardian (sane adult) of the bride. The first right to be "wali" is her father, grandfather, brother, uncle from father side, or any adult male who get permission of the bride’s father. For a woman (bride) who does not have family to be “wali” (for example an orphan) the “wali” is a government official (wali hakim). The Wali should be a Muslim. 3. Two witnesses. The two witnesses should be adult and sane Muslims. A witness cannot be a wali at the same time. 4. Mahar (marriage gift or dowry). The Mahar should be stipulated amount of condition given by the groom to the bride. It becomes the property of the bride. 5. Ijab and Qabul. This is a contract offered by the bride’s wali to the groom. The offer is called Ijab and the acceptance is called Qabul. It is a custom in some Islamic countries, such as Indonesia, that the wali and the groom will hold (shake) their hands during Ijab (offer) and qabul (acceptance). Example of Ijab and qabul if the Wali is the bride’s father: Bride’s Father: “I present my daughter (name, daughter of so and so) to you as your bride for the specified (mentioned the stipulated dowry). Groom: “I, (name, son of so and so) accept the hand of the bride as my wife for the specified (mentioned the stipulated dowry) requested by the bride. Example of Ijab and qabul if the Wali is not the bride’s father: Wali: “I present (name) the daughter of so and so to you as your bride for the specified (mentioned the stipulated dowry).

Groom: “ I, (name, son of so and so) accept the hand of the bride as my wife for the specified (mentioned the stipulated dowry) requested by the bride.

PROCEDURES: 1. Pre-nikah Khutbah (pre-marriage speech). 2. Ijab and Qabul 3. Mahar (dowry) presentation from the groom to the bride. (If the Mahar or dowry available at that time). 4. Du’a (supplication) for the couple and people who are attending the marriage ceremony. 5. Signing contract or marriage certificate by the groom and the bride, the two witnesses, and the Imam (the one who lead marriage contract). 6. Congratulations.