I have known the man I want to marry for 3 years. We are both Muslims, sunni, Arab-Palestinian, and follow Hanafi school of thought. I live in Chicago, IL but we will travel anywhere in the U.S to perform the Nikah. My father will not allow me to marry him now becuase I am still an undergraduate, and will be for another 2 years. We are only engaged right now, which just consists of our parents being aware of the communiation between us. As tradition in my family, my Father will not allow us to perform the Nikah until the day before the wedding ceremony in another 2 years at least (HARAM!!). I do indeed respect my parents and follow their every wish, however, in this case it is not being faithful to Allah (SWT) and I CANNOT do this any longer. Please, I feel it is so haram to not have the Nikah done by now. Temptation is growing between us and we do not want to do anything that will not be permissible by Allah (SWT).
Kindly find below our standard reply on how to perform Nikah.
There is no need for you to travel anywhere to have your Nikah performed.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.
A Nikah is performed with a proposal (Iejaab) by the male or female and
acceptance (Qubool) by the male or female in the past tense and in the
presence of two male Muslim witnesses (Hidaaya vol. 2).
It is Sunnat that the marriage be announced and performed in the Masjid and
the bride be represented by her Mahram (father, brother, etc.). The bride
gives consent to her representative (Wakeel) in the presence of two
witnesses to perform her marriage at the Masjid. At the Masjid, the Wakeel
represents the bride in the presence of the two witnesses and the stipulated
dowry. The witnesses must be two trustworthy and pious male Muslims who are
not her ascendants e.g. father, grandfather or decendants e.g. son,
grandson, etc.
The Mahr (dowry) is the woman’s right and should be stipulated prior to the
marriage.
The procedure of marriage via the internet is same as marriage by proxy
where one of the partners (boy or girl) propose to marry the other. It is
advisable that the proposal be written in front of two persons. However,
this is not a precondition. (Shaami vol.3 pg.12; HM Saeed)
The two witnesses should also sign the document be sent to the other party,
for example, in a foreign land and accept the written proposal in the
presence of two witnesses. The presence of these two witnesses is a
pre-condition. It is important to exercise extreme precaution by verifying
the proposal and its witnessing to avoid any possibility of fraud and
deception.