Filipino Wedding Glossary › Nikah
Nikah
Pronunciation: NEE-kah
Origin: Arabic, Islamic marriage tradition observed in Bangsamoro and Filipino-Muslim communities
The Islamic marriage contract that formalizes a union between two consenting parties before witnesses and an imam.
Nikah is the marriage contract in Islam. Two consenting parties enter the union before an imam (or qadi) and witnesses, with the bride's mahr (dower) named openly.
In the Philippine context, Nikah is recognized under Presidential Decree 1083 (Code of Muslim Personal Laws) and registered through the Shari'a court system. Civil registration with the Local Civil Registrar is a separate step many couples also take.
The ceremony is often paired with a Walima (the post-Nikah feast) and may include cultural elements that vary by community: Tausug, Maranao, Maguindanao, Sama, and Yakan families each carry distinct practices.