Question

We are from a sunni (Hanafī) family. My daughter wants to marry a Shī‘ī boy which we have finally agreed upon. Now the issue is, that the boy’s family is insisting on a Shī‘ī nikāh. My family says even if they have the Shī‘ī nikāh we must have the sunni nikāh also. But the boy’s family says that their religious guide (mowlvī) is against 2 nikāhs and there should only be one nikāh and obviously a Shī‘ī one. Is there a need to have the sunni nikāh also. Are there such differences in the nikāhs that the Shī‘ī nikāh will not be counted as a nikāh? Chances are if we insist on it, it is just going to strain the relationship. But we also don’t want to do something that is wrong. Is sunnī nikāh actually a requirement or the Shī‘ī Nikāh is sufficient. An urgent response will be appreciated so that we can sort this thing.

Answer

Expressions like Shī‘ī Nikāh or Sunni Nikāh, like the titles Shī‘ī and Sunni are all innovations and have nothing to do with Islam. Nikāh simply means open statement of a man and a woman to express their willingness and intention to marry each other. The statements are pronounced by the couple themselves or through their representatives and normally in front of witnesses. As long as the statement carries the above mentioned message clearly it will not matter in what language, form or words it is stated. What are known as Hanafi Sunni Nikāh and Shī‘ī Nikāh are all legitimate and they are quite similar to each other, either of them can be used to marry the couple.

Answered by: Farhad Shafti

Date: 2015-03-28