- →A nikah ceremony script: 1) Khutbah praising Allah and the Prophet ﷺ, 2) Wali declares consent, 3) Mahr agreed, 4) Bride accepts, 5) Groom says "Qabiltu", 6) 2 witnesses confirm hearing, 7) Du'a.
- →Total time: 15-30 minutes.
- →This template works for Sunni Muslims across all 4 madhhabs.
When to use this script
This script is for: - Imams officiating their first nikah - Couples and families coordinating with an imam who's new - Reference document to verify what should happen at the ceremony
Adapt as needed for local madhhab preferences. Read carefully before the ceremony.
Required participants
- Bride and groom (or wakil/representative if bride absent)
- Wali (bride's father or designated)
- 2 Muslim adult witnesses of upright character (separate from wali)
- Officiant (imam, sheikh, or qualified Muslim authority)
The complete script
1. Opening prayer (Imam)
"Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem. All praise belongs to Allah. We praise Him, we seek His help, we seek His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and the evil of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides, none can lead astray, and whoever Allah leads astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger. Allah Most High says in Surah An-Nisa (4:1): 'O mankind, fear your Lord who created you from one soul and created from it its mate, and dispersed from both of them many men and women.'"
2. Marriage khutbah (Imam)
"We have gathered today to perform a sacred contract — the nikah of [Sister's full name] and [Brother's full name]. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Marriage is part of my Sunnah, and whoever does not follow my Sunnah is not of me.' (Ibn Majah 1846) And he ﷺ said: 'When one of you finds a person of good character and good religion, get them married. If you do not, there will be fitna in the land.' (Tirmidhi 1085) Marriage is half of one's religion. May Allah make this nikah a means of mercy, love, and tranquility — the qualities Allah promises in Surah Ar-Rum (30:21): 'And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy.'"
3. Mahr declaration (Imam to Brother)
"[Brother's full name], the mahr you have agreed upon with [Sister's full name] is [mahr amount and details — e.g., 'one Quran and 1000 SEK upfront, and 50,000 SEK as deferred (mu'akhar)']. Do you confirm this is what you have agreed?"
Brother: "Yes, I confirm."
4. Wali consent (Imam to Wali)
"[Wali's full name], do you, as the wali of [Sister's full name], give your consent to her marriage with [Brother's full name] for the agreed mahr?"
Wali: "I give my consent. I, [Wali's name], wali of [Sister's name], approve her marriage to [Brother's name] for the mahr of [amount]."
5. Witness confirmation (Imam to Witnesses)
"Witnesses, did you both clearly hear the wali's consent and the mahr amount?"
Witnesses (both): "Yes, we heard clearly."
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6. Ijab — the offer (Imam to Bride)
"[Sister's full name], do you accept marriage to [Brother's full name] for the mahr of [amount]?"
Bride: "Yes, I accept" (or "I accept" or in some traditions silence is acceptable if she does not openly object)
In Hanafi and Shafi'i traditions: bride may say nothing if a virgin (silence = consent), but must say yes if previously married.
7. Qabul — the acceptance (Imam to Groom)
"[Brother's full name], do you accept marriage to [Sister's full name] for the mahr of [amount]?"
Groom: "Qabiltu" (I accept) — preferred Arabic — or "Yes, I accept" in local language
8. Final witness confirmation (Imam)
"Witnesses, did you both hear the groom's acceptance and the bride's [consent or silence as appropriate]?"
Witnesses: "Yes, we heard clearly."
9. Declaration (Imam)
"By the authority of Allah, His Book, and the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ, I declare [Brother's name] and [Sister's name] to be lawfully married. May Allah bless this marriage."
10. Closing du'a (Imam)
"Barak Allahu lakum wa baraka 'alaykum wa jama'a baynakuma fi khair." (May Allah bless you, may He bless upon you, and may He join you together in goodness.)
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"Allahumma, alif bayna qulubihima, wa thabbit-huma 'ala dinika, wa ja'al baynahuma sakinah wa mawaddah wa rahmah." (O Allah, unite their hearts, keep them firm on Your religion, and place between them tranquility, affection, and mercy.)
Signing the contract
After the verbal ceremony:
- Imam fills the nikah certificate with:
- Witnesses sign first, then wali, then bride and groom
- Imam signs and stamps the certificate
- Copies distributed: 1 for bride, 1 for groom, 1 for imam's records
Brief mode (for time-constrained situations)
If a full ceremony is impossible, the minimum required:
- Brief khutbah (1-2 minutes)
- Mahr stated
- Wali says "I give my consent" with name + sister's name
- Bride confirms consent
- Groom says "Qabiltu"
- Witnesses sign
This takes 5 minutes. Use only when full ceremony impossible (e.g., medical emergency).
What to avoid
- ❌ Don't proceed if any witness didn't hear clearly
- ❌ Don't proceed if mahr was not agreed in advance
- ❌ Don't proceed if wali is non-Muslim
- ❌ Don't add "conditions" that contradict shariah (e.g., "you can never divorce me")
- ❌ Don't skip the ijab/qabul exchange
Country-specific additions
Sweden, USA, UK After Islamic ceremony, civil officiant (which may be the same imam if licensed) conducts civil registration: - Sweden: Hindersprövning + civil vigsel - USA: Marriage license signing - UK: Notice of marriage + ceremony
These can be conducted same day, same venue.
Conclusion
A nikah ceremony, properly conducted, takes 15-30 minutes. The script above ensures all Islamic requirements are met. Adapt the language to your community but preserve the structure. May Allah bless every nikah conducted with sincerity, transparency, and proper procedure.
Important note
This article provides general guidance based on traditional Sunni jurisprudence and contemporary scholarly consensus. For specific rulings applicable to your situation:
- Consult your local imam — they understand your madhhab, regional fiqh practice, and personal circumstances
- Verify with official fatwa bodies — AMJA (amjaonline.org), ECFR, or your country's official Islamic council for specific current rulings
- For legal matters — civil registration, marriage license requirements, immigration — consult licensed attorneys in your jurisdiction
Zawji provides educational guidance to help you ask the right questions. We don't issue fatwas or provide legal advice.
From the Seerah
Ali och Fatimah — Profetens ﷺ egen dotter
När Ali ibn Abi Talib (radiyallahu anhu) ville fria till Fatimah (radiyallahu anha), var hans mahr två rustningar. Profeten ﷺ frågade honom om hans ekonomi, hans planer och hans deen. Han testade Ali — inte för att försvåra, utan för att säkerställa att hans dotter skulle få en god make.
an-Nasa'i, Sunan al-Kubra
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Frequently asked questions
Full ceremony: 15-30 minutes including khutbah, contracts, and du'a. Brief version (5 minutes) is possible in emergencies but full ceremony is preferred.
In Hanafi/Shafi'i: if she's a virgin, silence is acceptable (no objection = consent). If previously married, she must verbally say yes. Maliki/Hanbali: silence is acceptable in all cases. Best practice: have her say "Yes, I accept" to be unambiguous.
The ceremony should be officiated by an imam familiar with the couple's madhhab. A Shi'i imam can officiate for Shi'i couples; Sunni imam for Sunni couples. Cross-madhhab officiation is acceptable when both parties consent.
As long as he clearly states his consent and identifies himself as wali of the bride, exact wording doesn't matter. The script is a guide, not a magic formula. Substance over form.
Yes — the khutbah can include personal touches, advice for the couple, quotes the families value. Just maintain the praise of Allah, salutation on the Prophet ﷺ, and reference to marriage in Islam.
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