Can the Bride’s Wali be a Witness in the Marriage Ceremony?

Question:

During a marriage ceremony, can a woman’s guardian (wali) be counted as one of the two witnesses?

Answer:

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

A womans’ guardian (walī) can be one of the two witnesses during the nikāḥ ceremony as long as he is not the wakīl (representative) of the bride.[1]

And Allah knows best

(Mufti) Bilal al-Mahmudi

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Faisal al-Mahmudi


[١] ثم الأصل عندنا أن كل من يصلح أن يكون قابلا للعقد بنفسه ينعقد النكاح بشهادته، وكل من يصلح أن يكون وليا في نكاح يصلح أن يكون شاهدا في ذلك النكاح، وعلى هذا الأصل قلنا: ينعقد النكاح بشهادة الفاسقين. (المبسوط للسرخسي. ج ٥ ص ٣١)

 قال الإسبيجابي: والأصل أن كل من صلح أن يكون وليا فيه بولاية نفسه صلح أن يكون شاهدا فيه وقولنا بولاية نفسه لإخراج المكاتب فإنه وإن ملك تزويج أمته لكن لا بولاية نفسه بل بما استفاده من المولى. (رد المحتار. ج ٣ ص ٢٤. بابي الحلبي)

(محمود الفتاوى. ج ص ٣١٧. مكتبه محموديه)

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IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ FIRST
  • The ruling given is based specifically on the question posed and should only be read in conjunction with that question.
  • Due to the number of queries received, please allow a minimum of 7 days for your question to be answered.
  • If two questions are asked at once or the question requires a detailed research, please allow up to three or four weeks for your question to be answered. Urgent queries will be given priority.
  • Kindly do not submit more than three questions at once.
  • If you do not receive a response within 10 days, kindly resubmit your query.
  • Our responses may reach your junk folder and not your inbox. Be sure to check your junk folder before resubmitting your query.
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