Nikah
The Islamic marriage contract and the ceremony in which it is made.
Also: nikaah, nika, nikkah, aqd
The nikah is the Muslim marriage contract, made with the free consent of both parties, in the presence of at least two witnesses and with a mahr, a gift from the groom to the bride, agreed in the contract. It is usually conducted by an imam or qazi, who recites a khutbah, asks the bride and groom, or their representatives, whether they accept, and has the contract signed. The ceremony can be held at home, in a mosque or at a hall, and is separate from the party that follows. Nikah is the usual spelling in South Asia, nikaah and nikka in some places, and aqd in Arabic.
Region: South Asia