Witnesses

Getting married in the presence of two witnesses

Q: I write to seek truth and guidance. Eight years ago at the age of 18, I met a 25 year old Muslim man and we entered into a serious relationship. Three months later I converted to Islam. We continued the relationship still, including zina. When we thought about marriage, both first marriages, we met with a sheikh to discuss an Islamic marriage, where he advised us to stay away from each other and to seek forgiveness and repentance before entering marriage. Unfortunately we did not comply, continuing sins even days before we preformed an Islamic marriage contract. Neither he nor I repented, separated, or observed a waiting period to see if pregnancy was apparent before the contract was made. Also, as a convert, I did not have a Wali when we did the marriage contract, and the actual contract states "herself", as I was my own Wali. Now we have been together since and just gave birth to our second son. I am asking to know if our marriage is valid or invalid (batil), and also the status of our two children if they are legitimate or not and can inherit from their father according to Islam. Also where do I stand from his family, including his brothers and his father, if they are or ever were relatives of mine if the marriage never existed or is invalid and are they related to our two children in any way if invalid. Please advise.

Revert getting married in the presence of two witnesses

Q: I am from India and want to ask a question regarding nikaah. There is a girl who accepted Islam and is following it secretly for almost five years without her parents knowledge. (She was Hindu and from a Hindu family). Now she want to get married with a Muslim boy but without anyone's notice and fly abroad with that guy. As we know in her situation she is a wali for herself as her complete family is Hindu. She is even worried to marry in front of any Imaam. She wants to marry first and then fly abroad. Her concern is that, can she marry that boy without a qazi.

Marrying a Christian

Q: I married a Christian girl and conducted the Nikah myself - i.e. I got two non-Muslim witnesses, asked her if she accepted my proposal based on the Mahr I gave her, she accepted and I then read the Nikah Khutbah, and confirmed that I have accepted her as well in my Nikaah. First Question: Is my Nikaah Valid? Secondly - things did not work out and I have subsequently given her 3 Talaaqs telling her that I divorce her in front of two Muslim male witnesses. If she reverts from Christianity - can I remarry her (perform Nikah again) or not? (Does she first need to remarry someone else etc.)

Nikaah without witnesses

Q: My question is on the validity of Nikaah. Is the nikaah valid by mere confession between a boy and a girl that they accept each other as husband and wife? without any supplication or dua ?and without anybody's permission? And also what will be the kaffara if they are doing so?

Witnesses for nikaah

Q: When someone does nikaah at home. What is the procedure with witnesses? How many does the male need and how many the female? I have heard even without witnesses it is counted and it is only sunnat to have witnesses and to do khutbah. If someone has done nikkah without witnesses and khutbah is it counted?