Who Should Be Asked to Perform the Nikah?

Question

A man whose beard is cut, who is not even regular in fasting and prayer, but who, because of the hereditary office of officiating at nikahs, considers himself entitled to perform nikahs — should the nikah be performed by him? Or is it better to have it performed by a person who is a religious scholar (‘alim), regular in fasting and prayer, and the imam of the Friday (Jami‘) mosque?

Answer

According to the Shari‘a there is full freedom: the nikah may be performed by whomever one wishes — there is no restriction to any particular officiant. Therefore it should be performed by a person who is religious and well acquainted with the rulings of nikah.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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