Nikaah & Marriage Issues

Nikaah with one witness

Q: My question is about nikaah. Can a boy and girl make nikaah on their own, just oral, with one witness or without witnesses and how? We did that, we read kalima and than he asked I son of, he told his father's name and he asked do you accept me as husband. I said qubool hai 3 times, and he said the same. We had one witness. Is this nikaah valid?

Adopted child

Q: A child has been adopted by a South African Indian family. By what title may he address his adoptive father, mother and grandparents. Is it permissible to teach the child to say abba, ummi, dada, dadi, nana and nani? At what age is it appropriate to inform the child that he is adopted or should we adopt silence in this situation?

Giving the wife her full mahr after divorce

Q: One of my friends got married to a guy. Only nikaah was performed but no rukhsati. It was an arranged matter. The two people were in love and decided to consummate the marriage. But after few months of nikah their were some issues between the families of the guy and the girl, all those issues led to the divorce of the couple. Now when the things were exchanged between the families, half of the mahar was also returned as the family elders didn't know that the couple had consummated the marriage. My friend has not forgiven any mehar to her ex husband. In that case what does the Quran and hadith say? Kindly enlighten me about the matter. Does the guy owe her that rest half of mehar that was returned at the time of divorce?

Secret marriages

Q: I want say that I got married due to my parents forcing me but I want a second nikaah with a girl whom I like but my parents are not allowing me. So I decided that I will do a secret nikaah. I want to know is it wrong or right according to Islamic law?

Wedding reception

Q: I have heard from the muftis that wedding reception (feeding by girls family) is not sunnah. If I get invited to such a gathering (which is free from sin), what should I do? Attend or not? Is it the inviter's right for me to attend?