Is my secret nikaah with a cousin via telephone valid?

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

In order for a nikaah to be valid, the proposal and acceptance of both the parties must be witnessed by two persons in the same sitting. In the enquired situation, both parties, the boy and the girl, were in different places and the witnesses were only by the boy. Accordingly, the nikaah is invalid.[1]

We have condemned secret nikaahs in many of our fataawaa due to its negative impacts and consequences. What will happen when your parents find out? What if they do not approve of the boy? What kind of relationship will your child have with his grandparents and other relatives? How will the in-laws interact with each other? The list goes on and on.

It is our advice that you talk to your parents and discuss with them your desire to get married. Insha’allah they will guide you. Make mashwarah and istikhaarah and make dua to Allah Ta’aalaa to guide you in the matter.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Muhammad Haris Siddiqui

Student Darul Iftaa
Melbourne, Australia

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.