What is the Arabic meaning of nikah?

Short answer

Nikah means marriage or a contract of marriage in Arabic. It is the Islamic term for the wedding ceremony and the legal agreement between two people.

Nikah is the Arabic word for marriage, and it refers to both the wedding ceremony and the marriage contract itself. For many Muslim couples in the UK, the nikah is the core religious ceremony where vows are exchanged and the mahr, or marriage gift, is agreed. This contract is usually signed in the presence of witnesses and often led by an imam or another authorised person.

If you want your marriage to be legally recognised in the UK, the nikah alone may not be enough. In England and Wales, a religious ceremony is only legally binding if it takes place in a building registered for marriages with an authorised person present. Many couples choose to have a short civil ceremony at a register office or approved venue before or after their nikah. This ensures the marriage is legal under UK law as well as religiously valid.

Rules and traditions can vary between communities and schools of thought. Some couples also hold a walima, a reception hosted by the groom's family, after the ceremony. Check with your place of worship and the register office for the current legal requirements, and remember that GOV.UK has the official guidance on marriage.