The Presence of a Qadi Is Not Necessary for the Nikah Khutba
Question
Can only the qadi (the one who performs the nikah) conduct the nikah, and not some other knowledgeable person?
Answer
Anyone can conduct the nikah; it is not restricted to the qadi. Rather, the woman and the man can also conclude their own nikah themselves in the presence of witnesses.
Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya
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