Nikah Without Having the Kalima Recited

Question

On 15 June 1986 the wedding of Muhammad Mahmud son of 'Ali had been fixed, at which my father was to officiate the nikah, but owing to old age he could not go. I was at home. He told me: “Go and perform the nikah.” In obedience to his order I went. People had come there with drums and the like for singing and playing music; seeing me, they began to leave. I saw that the drum was being beaten and children of four or five years were dancing.

Answer

It was very saddening to read these words of ignorance and lack of knowledge — that Muslims are not acquainted even with the kalima and the “Sifat al-Iman”. What then is to be said of other rulings! In the case asked about, if the offer and acceptance (ijab and qabul)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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