Which Prayer Is Performed at the Time of Nikah?

Question

Nowadays, before the nikah, the bridegroom is made to pray two rak‘as. What prayer is this — a voluntary prayer of thanksgiving or something else?

Answer

This prayer is such that neither the Pure Lord made it fard nor did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ establish it as a sunna; that is, it has no basis. An ignorant bridegroom who does not pray is made to pray, and in this way they prove that he is a Muslim; likewise, at the nikah gathering they make him recite the kalima and thereby establish that he is a Muslim.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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