Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalaam Allaikum Wrt Brt

I am regular visitor to read your conclusions and fatwas regarding Various Islamic Issues. thaks I can understand that its good effort you have put in thanks . I also understadn that all your opinions are based on only Quran and Hadiths as you or your imam has interpreted for u . I know u do not follow any madhab which is following an Imam, in your Imams view its is Bida or mis guidance.

My question is regaridng the Question No. 417-2758: Sunnah way of Nikaah which one of th ebrothers has sked here .You have mentioned everything regarding Nikah in hadith and Quran thanks ,BUt hte Brother who is asking this question says that marrying in mosque is Prophetic (pbuh) sunna ..May be I dont know if this is sunna to marry in mosque or someone has wisely introduced this practice in islaam in the name of sunna.

Please can you give any authentic hadith declaring this as a sunna or reference in quran

Thanks

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Answer:

Marrying in mosque

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Statement: know u do not follow any madhab which is following an Imam, in your Imams view its is Bida or mis guidance.

Dear and Beloved Brother in Islam, before we proceed to answer your specific question on ‘nikaah’, we would like to clarify our position which you assumed for us regarding the following of the madhabs or the respected imams.

Beloved Brother in Islam, we have never (Allah forbid) claimed or believe that the following of the madhabs or the respected Imams in Islam is a ‘bida’ (innovation) or a form of misguidance! The respected and honored Imams of the madhabs were undoubtedly some of the best scholars in the History of Islam from amongst the latter generations of the muslim Ummah; and our humble view and opinion is that instead of choosing and limiting one’s knowledge to just one madhab or one Imam, it would be better to study and understand and utilize the knowledge of all the madhabs and all the respected Imams; for the mission of each and every good madhab and the good imams in Islam cannot be any other than to follow the Imam of all the imams, the last and final Messenger of Allah, Mohammed ar-Rasool Allah (saws)!

Thus our duty and responsibility as muslims is only to unconditionally follow and obey the madhab of the Imam of all the imams, Prophet Mohamed (saws); and his madhab was none other than Islam! Prophet Mohamed (saws) never ever claimed to be a Shafei, or a Maliki, or a Hanafi, or a Hanbali, etc.; but he (saws) always claimed to be a ‘muslim’.

We as muslims must respect and honor each and every good and righteous imam and their noble works and pray that Allah Subhanah accept their striving for the Deen and grant them the best grades in Al-Firdaus; but our unconditional obedience belongs to none except Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Your Question: BUt hte Brother who is asking this question says that marrying in mosque is Prophetic (pbuh) sunna ..May be I dont know if this is sunna to marry in mosque or someone has wisely introduced this practice in islaam in the name of sunna.

Please can you give any authentic hadith declaring this as a sunna or reference in quran

Dear and Beloved Brother in Islam, it is indeed unfortunate that today we have differentiated and segregated the clergy from the normal muslims; so much so that for every religious act or ritual we have to seek the advice of a ‘clergy’ or ‘holy man’; be it marriage, or offering our prayers, or performing our burials, etc.

At the time of the Prophet (saws) and even many years after his (saws) death, there was absolutely no segregation between the ‘clergy’ and the normal muslims. It was not like everytime someone wanted to get married, he had to seek the assistance of the clergy to solemnize his marriage! If the groom, the bride, the bride’s guardian and two witnesses were able to witness the ‘nikaah’ contract, any believer would perform this simple Islamic marriage rite wherever they were stationed at the time; be they in their homes, or during travel, or anywhere they happened to be!

Even when some of the closest companions of the Prophet (saws) got married, it was not like they went to the Prophet (saws) to perform their ‘nikaah’! He (saws) would only find out one is married if they informed him personally after their marriage, or when the ‘walima’ feast was given.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 5.274 Narrated by Anas

When 'Abdur-Rahman bin Auf came to Medina and the Prophet (saws) established the bond of brotherhood between him and Sad bin Ar-Rabi-al-Ansari, Sad suggested that 'Abdur-Rahman should accept half of his property and family. 'Abdur Rahman said, "May Allah bless you in your family and property; guide me to the market." So 'Abdur-Rahman (while doing business in the market) made some profit of some condensed dry yoghurt and butter. After a few days the Prophet (saws) saw him wearing clothes stained with yellow perfume. The Prophet (saws) asked, "What is this, O 'Abdur-Rahman?" He said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! I have married an Ansar' woman." The Prophet (saws) asked, "What have you given her as Mahr?" He (i.e. 'Abdur-Rahman) said, "A piece of gold, about the weight of a date stone." Then the Prophet (saws) said, -Give a banquet, even though of a sheep."

If one simply studies the above authentic hadith, one would realize that a companion of even the status of Hadrat Abdur-Rahmaan bin Auf (r.a.), who was amongst the early immigrants from Makkah to Medina, and was one amongst the ‘Aashara Mubasshereen’ (the ten companions who were given the good news of Paradise in their lives) did not get his marriage performed at the hands of the Prophet of Allah (saws)!

Provided all the conditions of ‘nikaah’ in Shariah were met, a marriage witnessed or solemnized by the Imam of the Sacred Mosque in Makkah would be exactly as acceptable and legal in the sight of Allah Subhanah as a marriage witnessed by normal believers like you and me in our homes! Thus my dear and beloved brother in Islam, there is absolutely no restriction or encouragement or a bigger or smaller reward for one to marry in a particular place like a mosque, or a house, or even in the streets! One may perform his marriage wherever it is convenient and easy for him; as there is absolutely no importance attached in Islam to the place where one gets married!

If one wishes or it is convenient for one to get married in a mosque there is no harm, and if one wishes or is convenient for him to get married in one’s home there is no harm.

Praise be to Allah Subhanah Who has made the deen of Islam easy for the believers.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan