Answered Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
I was trying to find out about the validity of nikāḥ from an organization in Pakistan because the groom follows that silsilah who believe groom himself can be a witness to his nikāḥ. The Sheikh of that silsilah stated in a video that any man can point and say to his friend I am married to that woman, if he sees her walking in the street and if the woman does not respond then she is in nikāḥ with him. In the video he states that the groom himself can be one of the witnesses to the nikāḥ and the friend would be second witness.
I wrote a lengthy email asking them for an answer according to the Qur’ān, sunna, ḥadīths etc. They have given me no Shariah or Qur’ānic basis as to why they believe a nikāḥ to be valid without 2 witnesses and how the groom can be a witness. They are the only organization who say this is OK for groom to be a witness. All other scholars say you need 2 separate witnesses for nikāḥ to be valid especially if it is secret and never announced.
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathabah Institute.
In Islam there is no such thing as a secret nikāḥ (marriage). Islam instructs to publicise marriages. Consent is also required from both the groom and bride in order for a nikāḥ to be valid. Regarding your question about the groom being a witness himself for his own nikāḥ, this is not permissible according to Islamic law. A person himself [herself] can never be deemed an acceptable witness to their own transaction, according to Islamic jurisprudence.”– (See: Rad-Al-Muḥtār, Vol 4, Page 68[1] and 92[2], Dār Al-Ālam Al-Kutub, Al-Ikhtiyār, Vol 3, Page 83, Dār Al-Ālam Al-Kutub[3])
The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “There is no nikāḥ without a walī and two [separate] upright witnesses.” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān 4075) [4]
The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Publicize the marriage, hold it in the Masjids, and beat the duff for it [to be announced publicly].” – (Tirmidhī 1089)[5]
Only Allāh knows best
[1] وَيَنْعَقِدُ أَيْ النِّكَاحُ أَيْ يَثْبُتُ وَيَحْصُلُ انْعِقَادُهُ بِالْإِيجَابِ وَالْقَبُولِ – رد المحتا ج ٤/ ص ٦٨ دار العالم الكتب
[2] وَلَا يَنْعَقِدُ نِكَاحُ الْمُسْلِمَيْنِ إلَّا بِحُضُورِ شَاهِدَيْنِ – رد المحتار ج ٤/ ص ٩٢ دار العالم الكتب
[3] وَلَا يَنْعَقِدُ نِكَاحُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلَّا بِحُضُورِ رَجُلَيْنِ أَوْ رَجُلٍ وَامْرَأَتَيْنِ وَلَا بُدَّ فِي الشُّهُودِ مِنْ صِفَةِ الْحُرِّيَّةِ وَالْإِسْلَامِ وَلَا تُشْتَرَطُ الْعَدَالَةُ فَالشُّهُودُ شَرْطٌ لِقَوْلِهِ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ لَا نِكَاحَ إِلَّا بِشُهُودٍ وَرَوَى ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ الزَّانِيَةُ الَّتِي تُنْكِحُ نَفْسَهَا بِغَيْرِ بَيِّنَةٍ – كتاب الاختيار لتعليل المختار ج٣/ص٨٣ دار الكتب العلمية
[4] عَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لَا نِكَاحَ إِلَّا بِوَلِيٍّ وَشَاهِدَيْ عَدْلٍ وَمَا كَانَ مِنْ نِكَاحٍ عَلَى غَيْرِ ذَلِكَ فَهُوَ بَاطِلٌ فَإِنْ تَشَاجَرُوا فَالسُّلْطَانُ وَلِيُّ مَنْ لَا وَلِيَّ لَهُ – صحيح ابن حبان ٤٠٧٥
[5] أَعْلِنُوا هَذَا النِّكَاحَ وَاجْعَلُوهُ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ وَاضْرِبُوا عَلَيْهِ بِالدُّفُوفِ – رواه الترمذي ١٠٨٩