Having the kalima recited at the nikah gathering and taking offer and acceptance from both spouses

Question

Question: In some places in eastern U.P. (Uttar Pradesh), the bridegroom and the bride are seated together and the nikah is performed. The offer and acceptance (ijab and qabul) are taken from the bridegroom three times, and likewise from the bride. If the offer and acceptance are not taken from the bride, they say that the nikah has not taken place. People say that just as talaq is three times, so in nikah the offer and acceptance are also three times.

Answer

Adhering to this method is not a ruling of the Shari‘a. If the bride is not present at the gathering of the contract (majlis al-‘aqd) and some guardian (wali) of hers or an agent (wakil) — the qadi or the like — makes the offer on her behalf, that too is correct. The offer and acceptance even once are sufficient.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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