ISLAMIC MARRIAGE
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. (Qur'an 30:21)
Marriage is a sacred covenant in Islam, founded upon faith, mutual respect, affection, mercy, and shared responsibility.
IMAN facilitates Islamic marriage (ʿaqd al-nikāḥ), helping couples fulfill the requirements of Islamic law while also ensuring that the marriage is properly documented under applicable civil law.
Our structured process is designed to help couples understand the requirements, complete the necessary documentation, and prepare for the ceremony.
Steps for an Islamic Marriage
1. Schedule a pre-marriage meeting
Ideally, the bride and groom should meet in person with IMAN personnel who officiate Islamic marriages at least one week before the , and preferably earlier. This meeting allows everyone to become familiar with the process, requirements, documentation, and timeline.
In-person meetings may be scheduled:
- Thursday or Friday evenings: 8:30–9:30 PM
- Sunday afternoons: 2:00–3:30 PM
To schedule a meeting, please email matrimonial@iman-wa.org.
For urgent requests, arrangements may be possible to meet with IMAN personnel at the IMAN Center around Dhuhr or ʿIshāʾ prayer times.
2. Review and complete the Marriage Contract
The bride and groom should carefully review the Marriage Contract and reach agreement on its terms well before the .
The Marriage Contract should be completed before the pre-marriage meeting so that any questions can be discussed in advance.
3. Fulfill applicable Islamic requirements
The couple must fulfill all applicable requirements of Islamic law, including any required consent or approval relating to the bride's marriage, where applicable.
4. Select witnesses and representatives
The bride and groom should identify the required witnesses and determine whether they will perform the themselves or appoint representatives (wakīls).
Under IMAN's current procedure, the bride and groom may either:
- represent themselves and perform the ʿaqd al-nikāḥ; or
- appoint an IMAN representative as their wakīl to perform the on their behalf.
5. Obtain the required civil marriage documentation
For a marriage being registered in the State of Washington, obtain a Washington State marriage license.
If the marriage has already been legally registered elsewhere, provide the marriage certificate issued by the appropriate civil authority.
6. Schedule the ʿaqd al-nikāḥ ceremony
Once the requirements and documentation have been completed, schedule a time for the ʿaqd al-nikāḥ ceremony.
For a marriage being registered in Washington State, the ceremony must comply with the applicable waiting period following issuance of the marriage license. Under current Washington requirements, the ceremony cannot take place until at least three days after the license is issued.
7. Perform the ʿaqd al-nikāḥ ceremony
At the ceremony, the bride, groom, and witnesses must provide valid identification for IMAN's records.
8. Sign the marriage documentation
The bride, groom, witnesses, and officiating representative will sign the appropriate documentation confirming the Islamic marriage.
9. Receive the Islamic Marriage Certificate
Following completion of the and required documentation, IMAN will issue an Islamic Marriage Certificate.
View a sample Islamic Marriage Certificate
Fee
$250 payable to IMAN
This fee helps cover the administrative and operational expenses associated with conducting and documenting Islamic marriages. IMAN is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization.
Fees: $250 Payable to IMAN The fees help cover the operational expenses of IMAN, which is a volunteer-run non-profit organization.