Marriage through E-Mail
Dear Sheikh, As-Salamu
`Alaykum wa
Rahmatullah wa Barakatuh. Now, modern means of communication have made
things much easier. Then, I'd like to know whether it's allowed to make Nikah (marriage) via the e-mail or not. Jazakum Allah khayran.
Name of Mufti Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi
Content of
In the Name of
Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah,
and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Brother, we really appreciate your fowarding this question to us, and we commend your keenness
on getting yourself well-acquainted with the teachings of Islam. May Allah help
us all keep firm on the Right Path, Ameen!
Brother, first of all, you are to bear
in mind the fact that marriage contract, in Islam, is so solemn that it should
be concluded in certain way stipulated by Shari`ah so
as to set it in order and remove any ambiguity in this regard.
Focusing more on the question in point,
Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi,
former President of the Islamic Society of
"According to Muslim jurists, it
is not permissible to marry someone by mail or phone. The same thing can be
said about the e-mail. Marriage in Islam is a formal legal contract. It should
be very clear who is marrying whom. The
If the parties who want to get married
are not present, they can appoint a wakil (representative).
The person who is getting married has to appoint his/her wakil.
It is permissible to appoint a wakil through telephone,
fax or email. The wakil then
should do the ijab (proposal) or qubul
(acceptance), in person, on behalf of the person who appointed him. Two
witnesses who also personally know the party that is not present are necessary
for the contract of marriage."
Allah Almighty knows best.