# Nikah Ceremony at a Mosque — What to Expect | UKPT > What happens at a mosque nikah in the UK: the mehr, wali and witnesses, the offer and acceptance, khutbah an-nikah, typical mosque fees, and the walimah… *Source: https://prayer-times.co.uk/marriage/nikah-ceremony · Independent, free UK prayer times.* --- 💍 Muslim Marriage Guide # The Nikah Ceremony at a Mosque Quick Answer A mosque nikah takes about 20–30 minutes: the imam delivers a short sermon (khutbah an-nikah), the **offer and acceptance** are exchanged in front of the bride's wali and **two witnesses**, the agreed **mehr** is announced, everyone signs the **nikah nama**, and the imam makes dua for the couple. Many families then hold a walimah feast. Last updated 11 August 2026 The mehr, the wali, the witnesses, what happens minute-by-minute — plus the questions to ask your mosque before you book. ## What Makes a Nikah Valid The essential elements — without these, there is no nikah - 📖 Khutbah an-Nikah The imam opens with a short sermon praising Allah and reciting the Quranic verses on marriage — typically from Surah an-Nisa (4:1) and Surah Aal-Imran (3:102) — reminding everyone of taqwa and the seriousness of the contract. - 🤝 Ijab wa Qabul (offer & acceptance) The heart of the nikah. The offer is made — usually by the wali on the bride’s side — and the groom accepts, in clear words, in the same sitting, in front of the witnesses. Once the qabul is spoken, the couple is married. - 🎁 The Mehr The obligatory dower from groom to bride, agreed beforehand and announced publicly at the ceremony. It is the bride’s exclusive property. Amounts vary from symbolic sums to significant gifts — what matters is that it is agreed, recorded and honoured. - ✍️ Witnesses & the nikah nama Two witnesses attest to the contract, and the couple, wali, witnesses and imam sign the nikah nama — the religious marriage certificate. Keep the original safe; you will need it for visa applications and religious purposes. - 🤲 Dua for the couple The imam closes with the traditional blessing: "Barakallahu laka wa baraka alayka wa jama’a baynakuma fi khayr" — may Allah bless you, shower blessings upon you, and unite you in goodness. > "O young men, whoever among you can afford marriage should marry, for it lowers the gaze and guards chastity." > > — Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim ## A Typical Mosque Nikah, Minute by Minute 1. 1 Arrival and seating Guests gather in the prayer hall — men and women seated as the mosque arranges. The groom and his family sit near the front; the bride may be present or in an adjoining room with a representative, depending on family custom. 2. 2 Khutbah an-nikah (5–10 min) The imam’s sermon with the Quranic verses of marriage and a reminder about the rights and responsibilities of husband and wife. 3. 3 Consent of the bride The wali (or the imam with two witnesses) confirms the bride’s free consent — silence or coercion invalidates the contract. Her consent is essential and independent. 4. 4 Ijab wa qabul The offer is made and accepted in clear words in one sitting, before the witnesses. Many imams have the couple repeat the Arabic phrases; plain English is equally valid. 5. 5 Announcing the mehr The agreed dower is stated publicly and recorded on the nikah nama — whether paid now or deferred. 6. 6 Signing the nikah nama The couple, wali, two witnesses and imam sign. If the mosque is registered for marriages and an authorised person is present, the legal schedule is signed here too — completing the civil marriage in the same sitting. 7. 7 Dua and congratulations The imam makes dua, guests congratulate the couple, and sweets or dates are often shared. The walimah may follow the same day or later in the week. ## What a Nikah Costs - •**Mosque nikah fee:** commonly £50–£200 administration; some mosques charge nothing - •**Mehr:** agreed by the couple — symbolic or substantial, it is the bride\\u2019s own - •**Walimah:** whatever you choose — from a home-cooked meal to a hired hall - •**Civil registration:** statutory fees if registering (see [the registration guide](/marriage/civil-registration)) ## Ask Your Mosque Before Booking - ?Is the mosque registered for marriages? (So the civil ceremony can happen at the nikah — see the registration guide) - ?What is the nikah fee, and what does it include? - ?Does the imam require a pre-nikah meeting with the couple? - ?Can the mosque provide the nikah nama, or should we bring one? - ?Are there separate seating arrangements or a partition if we want one? - ?How many guests can the prayer hall hold, and can we book the function room for the walimah? ## Nikah Ceremony FAQs What happens at a nikah ceremony? The imam delivers a short sermon with the Quranic verses on marriage, then the offer and acceptance (ijab wa qabul) are exchanged in front of the bride’s wali and two witnesses. The agreed mehr is announced, everyone signs the nikah nama, and the imam makes dua. The ceremony typically takes 20–30 minutes. What is mehr? Mehr is the obligatory dower from the groom to the bride, agreed before the nikah. It belongs to the bride alone and can be money, gold, property or anything of agreed value. It can be paid immediately (mu’ajjal) or deferred (mu’akhkhar), and it is announced publicly at the ceremony. Who can be a wali? The wali is the bride’s guardian — normally her father, then grandfather, brother or another male relative on her father’s side. Most schools require the wali’s consent for a valid nikah; the Hanafi school permits an adult woman to contract her own marriage. If there is no Muslim relative, an imam can act as wali. Can a nikah be done at home? Yes — a nikah is valid anywhere the essential elements are present: offer and acceptance, the wali, two witnesses and the mehr. Home nikahs with an attending imam are common in the UK, especially for smaller families. What is a walimah? The walimah is the wedding feast after the nikah — a strongly emphasised Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged announcing the marriage and celebrating it. It can be held the same day or within a few days, and there is no required scale — feeding people is the essence of it. 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