A simple, correct nikah by our Qazi for Sunni and Shia couples, with a clear nikahnama and nikah certificate the same day, and full guidance on government registration.
Quick answer: A nikah is a contract of marriage under Muslim law: the bride and groom each consent, two adult witnesses hear the offer and acceptance (for Sunnis), a mahr is agreed, and the nikahnama is signed. Our Qazi reads the nikah in Delhi for ₹5,000, including the nikahnama and a nikah certificate handed over the same day. You bring your own witnesses who know you; we do not provide witnesses. The bride must be at least 18 and the groom 21. A nikahnama is strong evidence of marriage but is not a government certificate; for passports and visas, register the nikah with the Delhi government under the 2014 Order (our registration service is ₹6,000).
Last reviewed: 22 September 2026
Key takeaways
On this page
A nikah is one of the simplest marriage ceremonies in the world. There is no fire, no pheras and no priest's long ritual. It is a contract: the woman consents, the man consents, two witnesses hear them, a mahr is agreed, and the marriage is complete. Yet many couples in Delhi find the practical side confusing. Which Qazi should read the nikah? What will the nikahnama say? Is a Qazi's certificate enough, or does the marriage also need government registration? What if one partner is divorced, or from a different sect, or from a different religion altogether? This page answers those questions, explains exactly what our ₹5,000 nikah service includes, and shows how to book.
We have written it for every kind of Muslim couple we meet in Delhi: families arranging a simple nikah without a big wedding, couples marrying by their own choice, widows and divorced women remarrying, working professionals who want the paperwork done properly, and families who want the nikah now and the reception later. If you only need government registration of a nikah that has already happened, see our Muslim marriage registration service.
Under Muslim personal law, which applies to Muslims in India through the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937, marriage is a civil contract. It is also a religious act, but its legal validity depends on the contract, not on a particular ritual or place. That is why a nikah can be read in a masjid, at home, in a hall or in an office, as long as the essential conditions are met.
| Essential | What it means | How we handle it |
|---|---|---|
| Ijab (proposal) | An offer of marriage by or on behalf of one party | Our Qazi puts the offer clearly, with the names and the mahr |
| Qubool (acceptance) | Acceptance by the other party at the same sitting | Each partner accepts in their own words; we never accept on behalf of an adult who is present |
| Free consent | Both must agree without force or pressure | The Qazi speaks to the bride and groom separately to confirm consent |
| Capacity | Both must be adults of sound mind and not within prohibited relationships | We check age proof and marital status before fixing the date |
| Witnesses | For Sunnis, two adult Muslim men, or one man and two women | You bring your own witnesses who know you; we do not provide witnesses |
| Mahr | A gift or amount the husband owes the wife, as her right | Written in the nikahnama, split into prompt and deferred if you wish |
The nikahnama is the written record of this contract. It sets out the names and parentage of the bride and groom, their addresses, the date and place of the nikah, the amount and type of mahr, the names of the witnesses and the wakil if any, and the signatures of everyone involved. It is a strong piece of evidence that a marriage took place. It is not, by itself, a government registration certificate; we explain the difference in the section on what the certificate is.
Most Muslims in Delhi follow the Hanafi school of Sunni law, and a large community follows Shia (Ithna Ashari) law. There are also Ahl-e-Hadith, Bohra and other communities. The core of the nikah is the same everywhere, but some details differ, and our Qazi follows the tradition of the couple.
| Point | Hanafi Sunni | Shia (Ithna Ashari) | Ahl-e-Hadith and others |
|---|---|---|---|
| Witnesses at nikah | Required: two men, or one man and two women | Not a condition of validity, though many families still have them | Required |
| Wali (guardian) for an adult woman | An adult woman may contract her own marriage | An adult woman who has been married before may contract her own; views differ for a first marriage | A wali is generally required |
| Language of the contract | Any language the parties understand | Traditionally Arabic formula, with explanation | Any language |
| Temporary marriage (muta) | Not recognised | Recognised in Shia law; we do not perform it | Not recognised |
If the bride and groom come from different sects, tell us at the start. Many Sunni–Shia couples marry, and families are often more concerned about the ceremony than the law. We usually suggest that the nikah satisfies the stricter requirement on each point, for example by having two witnesses even if one side's tradition does not insist on them, so that no one can later question it.
Our age rule is firm: we perform a nikah only when the bride is at least 18 and the groom at least 21, shown by a reliable age document. Courts in India have taken different views on the age of marriage under Muslim personal law, and in August 2025 the Supreme Court dismissed a child-rights commission's appeal on this question on technical grounds without deciding it. But the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the POCSO Act apply to everyone, Delhi's registration system works on 18 and 21, and a nikah that cannot be registered or that exposes the family to criminal complaints helps no one. We do not bend on this.
Muslim law prohibits marriage between certain relatives. A nikah between them is void, and no Qazi can make it valid.
If you are unsure whether a relationship is prohibited, ask before booking. We would rather give you an honest answer on the phone than read a nikah that can later be challenged.
Mahr (also called mehr or dower) is the amount or property the husband gives or promises to the wife as a consequence of the marriage. It belongs to her alone. It is not a payment to her family, and it is not a price. Indian law sets no minimum or maximum; the amount is whatever the two sides agree and write in the nikahnama.
| Type | When it is due | Practical point |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt mahr (mu'ajjal) | Immediately on marriage, or whenever the wife asks | Often paid at the nikah itself, in cash, gold or by bank transfer |
| Deferred mahr (mu'wajjal) | On divorce or on the husband's death, unless an earlier date is agreed | A debt owed to the wife; it ranks as a claim against the husband's estate |
| Mixed | Part prompt, part deferred | Common in Delhi; the nikahnama should state each part separately |
Families sometimes write a very large deferred mahr for social reasons or a symbolic amount for religious reasons. Either can be valid, but think about it seriously. A deferred mahr is a real legal debt, and a wife can recover it in court. A mahr that the husband could never pay causes bitterness later; a mahr so small that it gives the wife no security defeats its purpose. We do not advise on the amount, but we make sure whatever you agree is written clearly: the sum in figures and words, whether it is prompt or deferred, and whether any part was paid at the nikah.
A nikah with our Qazi usually takes thirty to forty-five minutes. Families who want a longer religious programme can add it; the legal core does not change.
If the bride's side wants her consent taken privately, with the wakil and witnesses carrying it to the gathering, that is the traditional practice in many families and is perfectly valid. What matters is that the consent is hers and freely given.
| Document | Who | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Age proof | Bride and groom | Class 10 certificate, birth certificate or passport. Aadhaar is identity, not reliable age proof |
| Identity proof | Bride and groom | Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or driving licence |
| Address proof | Bride and groom | Needed for the nikahnama and later registration |
| Photographs | Bride and groom | Four passport-size photographs each |
| Proof of divorce | If divorced | Talaqnama, khula or mubarat document, or court decree; the iddat must have ended |
| Death certificate of spouse | If widowed | And the iddat must have ended |
| Witnesses' ID | Each witness | Aadhaar or other photo ID with address |
| Wakil's ID | If a wakil acts | Photo ID |
Send clear photographs of these on WhatsApp before booking. We tell you within a few hours whether anything is missing, and what can replace it. If a date of birth differs between documents, or a name is spelt differently, fix it or explain it with an affidavit before the nikah, not after; the nikahnama will be copied into every later record.
A Sunni nikah needs two adult Muslim male witnesses, or one man and two women, who are of sound mind and who hear the offer and acceptance. They should be people who know you, such as a brother, uncle, cousin, friend or neighbour, because a witness may one day be asked to confirm the marriage in an office or a court.
We do not provide witnesses, and we do not arrange strangers to sign. A witness who does not know the couple is worthless as evidence and can create problems if the marriage is ever questioned. If your family is not attending, ask trusted friends. For government registration later, the witnesses usually need to attend the registration appointment too, so choose people who can do that.
After the nikah you receive the nikahnama, signed by everyone, and a nikah certificate issued by us with the Qazi's signature and seal. Together they prove that a nikah took place on that date, between those people, before those witnesses, for that mahr. Courts, families and many private institutions accept them as evidence of marriage.
They are not a government marriage registration certificate. Passport offices, embassies, visa authorities, some banks and insurance companies, and many government departments ask for a certificate issued by the state. For that, the nikah must be registered with the Delhi government. That is a separate process with its own appointment, which we handle in our registration service (₹6,000), or as part of the combined nikahnama, certificate and court affidavit package (₹7,000).
| Document | Issued by | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Nikahnama | Signed by the parties, witnesses and Qazi | Proof of the contract and mahr; family, community and court evidence |
| Nikah certificate | Our office and Qazi | A clean one-page summary for everyday use |
| Marriage affidavits | Sworn by each spouse before a notary or oath commissioner | Supporting evidence of the marriage, names and dates |
| Government registration certificate | Delhi government | Passport, visa, embassy, government records, strongest proof |
The Delhi (Compulsory Registration of Marriage) Order, 2014 requires every marriage performed in Delhi to be registered, whatever the religion of the parties. For years, however, the online e-District portal offered only two options, the Hindu Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act. Muslim couples who wanted a government certificate were often steered into registering their nikah under the Special Marriage Act.
That has consequences many couples do not realise. A marriage registered under the Special Marriage Act is treated as a marriage under that Act, and succession to the couple's property is governed by the Indian Succession Act instead of Muslim personal law. The Delhi High Court took up this problem in Dhanak of Humanity v. Government of NCT of Delhi in 2021, and again in Faizan Ayubi v. Government of NCT of Delhi in 2024, where a Muslim couple who had registered under the Special Marriage Act because the portal gave them no other option had that registration set aside. In November 2024 the court directed the Chief Secretary to ensure that Muslim marriages could be registered online under the 2014 Order in a time-bound manner.
What this means for you: when you are ready to register, we check which option the portal and the registration office currently offer, and register your nikah under the 2014 Order where that route is available. We do not register a nikah under the Special Marriage Act without first explaining, in plain words, what it changes. Some couples do choose the Special Marriage Act deliberately, for example an interfaith couple or a couple who wants the Indian Succession Act to apply, and our Nikah + Special Marriage Act service is designed for them.
We are often called by a Muslim man and a Hindu, Sikh or Christian woman, or a Muslim woman and a non-Muslim man, who want a nikah. The honest position is this.
For almost every interfaith couple, the safer route is the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which lets two people of different religions marry without either converting. After the civil marriage, families who wish can hold a religious ceremony. We explain both options in detail on our Nikah and Special Marriage Act page and our inter-religion marriage page.
Many of the nikahs we read are second marriages. Muslim law has always allowed divorced and widowed people to remarry, and there is no stigma in law. What matters is the paperwork of the earlier marriage.
| Earlier marriage ended by | What you should have | Iddat for the woman |
|---|---|---|
| Talaq by the husband (talaq-e-ahsan or hasan) | Talaqnama and proof it became final | Three menstrual cycles, or until delivery if pregnant |
| Khula (initiated by the wife) | Khulanama signed by both, or a decree | As for divorce |
| Mubarat (mutual) | Mubaratnama signed by both | As for divorce |
| Court decree under the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939 | Certified copy of the decree | As for divorce |
| Death of the husband | Death certificate | Four months and ten days, or until delivery if pregnant |
Triple talaq in one sitting is not a valid divorce. The Supreme Court held instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddat) invalid in Shayara Bano v. Union of India in 2017, and the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 declares it void and makes pronouncing it an offence. A woman whose "divorce" was only an instant triple talaq is, in law, still married. She cannot validly remarry until the marriage has actually been ended, and we will not read her nikah until it has. This protects her more than anyone.
Muslim personal law permits a man to have up to four wives at a time, subject to treating them equally. In practice in Delhi, a second marriage while the first wife is living raises questions we insist on answering before any nikah:
We do not read a second nikah where the groom is hiding the first marriage, where either spouse is a minor, or where we have reason to think the bride is being pressured.
Our couples come from every part of Delhi. Some of the neighbourhoods we hear from most are the Old Delhi mohallas around Jama Masjid, Ballimaran, Chandni Mahal, Turkman Gate and Daryaganj; the Jamia Nagar area of Batla House, Zakir Nagar, Shaheen Bagh, Abul Fazal and Okhla Vihar; Nizamuddin Basti and Jangpura; the North East Delhi localities of Seelampur, Jafrabad, Welcome, Mustafabad, Brijpuri and Chand Bagh; Sadar Bazar, Quraish Nagar and Inderlok; Mehrauli and Sangam Vihar in the south; and the new colonies of Dwarka, Rohini and Mayur Vihar. We also hear from Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad, and from couples who have moved to Delhi for work from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kashmir, West Bengal and elsewhere.
For registration, the Delhi address of either spouse, or the place in Delhi where the nikah was performed, decides the registration office. Since 1 January 2026 Delhi has 13 revenue districts and 39 sub-divisions, and the portal allocates the office by address. Jamia Nagar and Okhla fall under the South East district, the Old Delhi mohallas under the Old Delhi district, and the Seelampur–Mustafabad belt under the North East district, but always follow the office named on your appointment slip.
| Service | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Muslim nikah with certificate | ₹5,000 | A simple nikah by our Qazi, nikahnama and certificate the same day |
| Nikahnama + certificate + court affidavit | ₹7,000 | Nikah plus sworn affidavits for stronger legal proof |
| Muslim marriage deed only | ₹5,000 | A written, notarised record of a nikah that has taken place |
| Live-in relationship agreement | ₹11,000 | Adults living together who are not ready to marry |
| Muslim love marriage | ₹7,000 | Couples marrying by their own choice, with safety guidance |
| Urgent / same-day nikah | ₹7,000 | When the nikah is needed at short notice |
| Muslim marriage registration | ₹6,000 | Government registration of a nikah already performed |
| Nikah + Special Marriage Act | ₹15,000 | Interfaith couples, or those who want a civil marriage too |
| NRI Muslim nikah + apostille | ₹30,000 | Couples where one or both live abroad |
| Duplicate or corrected nikahnama | ₹2,500 | Lost nikahnama, spelling or date mistakes |
Government fees, notary charges and courier costs, where they apply, are paid at actual cost. Full prices for all services are on our fees page.
| Your situation | Start with |
|---|---|
| Both Muslim, want a simple nikah soon | Nikah with certificate (₹5,000) |
| Want the nikah and extra legal proof for a job, bank or family dispute | Nikahnama + certificate + affidavit (₹7,000) |
| Already had a nikah, need a government certificate | Registration (₹6,000) |
| Already had a nikah, the family has no proper written record | Marriage deed (₹5,000) |
| Marrying against family wishes | Love marriage (₹7,000) |
| Different religions | Nikah + Special Marriage Act (₹15,000) |
| One partner abroad, or certificate needed for a visa | NRI package (₹30,000) |
| Lost or wrong nikahnama | Duplicate / correction (₹2,500) |
A nikah is short, but small things go wrong when families are not prepared. This is the checklist we give every couple.
Arrive a little early. The Qazi uses the first few minutes to see the originals, confirm the spellings and meet the witnesses, so that the ceremony itself can proceed without interruption.
Often the couple agree on everything, but the two families do not. The most common disagreements, and how we handle them:
| Disagreement | What the law says | How we help |
|---|---|---|
| The amount of mahr | Whatever the parties agree; it is the bride's right | We explain prompt and deferred mahr so both sides can settle on a realistic figure |
| Who will be the witnesses | Any adult Muslim men (or one man and two women) of sound mind | Families usually pick one witness from each side |
| Whose tradition to follow | The nikah is valid if the essentials of the parties' schools are met | We meet the stricter requirement on each point |
| Nikah now or after the wedding functions | The nikah is the marriage; functions are social | Many families read the nikah first and hold functions later |
| Whether to register | The Delhi 2014 Order requires registration | We explain what registration adds and the right route for Muslims |
Dowry is a separate matter. Giving or demanding dowry is an offence under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, whatever the religion, and it is not the same as mahr. Mahr is owed by the husband to the wife; dowry demanded from the bride's family is illegal.
Many families feel a nikahnama is enough because everyone in the mohalla knows the couple are married. That is true until someone outside the mohalla needs proof: a passport officer, an embassy, an insurance company after a death, a court in a property dispute, or a foreign employer. At those moments a registered certificate ends the discussion in minutes, while a nikahnama alone can lead to months of affidavits and hearings. Registration is also required by the Delhi 2014 Order. Our advice is simple: read the nikah correctly, keep the nikahnama safe, and register it within the sixty-day window.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Document check | Same day |
| Nikah date | Usually within 1–3 days of booking; same day with our urgent service |
| Nikahnama and certificate | Same day as the nikah |
| Government registration | Depends on appointment availability and the route the portal offers |
A nikah gives the wife rights that the nikahnama helps her enforce.
A clear nikahnama, with the mahr stated correctly and the witnesses identifiable, makes all of these far easier to claim if they are ever needed.
A family in Zakir Nagar wanted their daughter's nikah done quietly, with the walima to follow after Eid. The bride and groom sent documents on a Monday, the nikah was read on Wednesday evening with twelve relatives present, and the nikahnama and certificate were handed over the same evening. Registration followed three weeks later.
A widow from Seelampur, whose husband had died two years earlier, wanted to marry a family friend. We checked the death certificate, confirmed the iddat had long ended, and her brothers acted as witnesses. Her children's rights to their father's estate were unaffected by her remarriage.
A young woman came to us for a nikah. Her first husband had pronounced triple talaq in one sitting over the phone. We explained that this was void in law and that she was still married. She obtained a decree under the Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, and after her iddat we read her second nikah.
A Sunni groom from Old Delhi and a Shia bride from Jafrabad married with the consent of both families. We had two male witnesses present and read the nikah so that it met the requirements of both traditions.
A couple from Okhla had their nikah with us and then needed the wife's passport updated for a Gulf job. We moved straight to government registration, and the registered certificate went to the passport office with her application.
Our Qazi reads the nikah according to your tradition. We check every document before the date is fixed so there are no surprises, write the nikahnama clearly and correctly, explain mahr and the wife's rights in plain language, and issue the certificate the same day. When you need government registration, an affidavit, a correction, or a Special Marriage Act marriage, we handle that too. Everything is confidential. We do not provide witnesses, we do not perform a nikah for anyone under 18 (bride) or 21 (groom), and we do not read a nikah where either partner's consent is in doubt.
Muslim Nikah with Certificate – ₹5,000
Our Qazi · nikahnama · nikah certificate same day · document check · guidance on mahr and registration
Book on WhatsApp – ₹5,000 → Call +91 8376863962All Muslim marriage services: Nikah · Registration · Price list
Legal points on this page were checked against these sources. Procedures and portals change, so confirm current details before applying.
This page is general information, not legal advice for your specific case. Call +91 8376863962 for advice on your situation.
From rishta and mahr to the ceremony (consent, khutbah, ijab-qubool, nikahnama, dua), rukhsati, walima and reg
Read →Complete checklist of nikah documents, witnesses, divorce proof and NRI cases, and step-by-step registration u
Read →Choice, consent, mahr, maintenance, home, protection from violence, khula and court divorce, rights after divo
Read →Valid talaq forms, why triple talaq is void, khula, mubarat, delegated divorce, court grounds, iddat, wife's r
Read →How much mahr to fix, prompt vs deferred, how to write it, mahr on divorce and death, recovery in court, and w
Read →Nikah essentials, age and consent, void and irregular marriages, mahr, maintenance, talaq, khula, iddat, custo
Read →Government certificate for your nikah – ₹6,000.
Read →Stronger legal proof – ₹7,000.
Read →Marrying by your own choice – ₹7,000.
Read →When time is short – ₹7,000.
Read →Interfaith couples – ₹15,000.
Read →With apostille – ₹30,000.
Read →Written record of your nikah – ₹5,000.
Read →For adults living together – ₹11,000.
Read →Lost or wrong nikahnama – ₹2,500.
Read →Full fee list.
Read →Expert articles on every marriage topic — read before you decide
Complete 2026 process from notice to certificate.
Read Article →Full checklist — Aadhaar, affidavits, witnesses.
Read Article →Transparent breakdown — official + service costs.
Read Article →Your rights, family pressure, police protection.
Read Article →Apostille, Embassy NOC, spouse visa explained.
Read Article →Honest truth about Arya Samaj same-day option.
Read Article →