Customary practices

Q: I was introduced to a boy with the intention of marriage. He is from a different city. We are compatible in all aspects as we've discussed what it is we are looking for in a spouse. I went for umrah and made a lot of Dua for guidance. I met this boy with my brother who is my mahram. My parents knew about this and agreed it was ok. However we decided to make istikhaara. He hasn't spoken to my parents or his. My istikhaara came out positive and he says he didn't have a good feeling. I am certain we went about it the incorrect way. Should he have come to my parents with his parents and then him and I perform istikhaara? Or was this method valid. He is a good boy with all the things a Muslimah should look for. I've kept my chastity etc for marriage. He feels also that I would be a perfect companion as we both only want to work towards attaining Jannah. But after his istikhaara how can we go against Allah (Ta'ala). It is confusing for me as I've abundantly made Dua not to meet him even once if he is not for me. I know my Allah would never have sent him to my hometown if we are not meant for each other. All that is in our way now is his istikhaara answer. Should he first approach my parents along with his?

Q: These days a new trend is to have wedding functions where all haram takes place and then have small pardha sections for men and women who are pardha conscious. Would it be permissible to attend such a function and use the pardha section?

Q: Is sehra (a special face cover for grooms) allowed during marriage in the books of Ahle Hadith and Tablighi Jamaat?

Q: I am in a confused situation. I am getting married this August Insha Allah. I am a Sunni and my would be is a mujahid. In my nikaah I want dua to be done after the nikaah ceremony and he is against it saying Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) never did it. Sheikh if you do dua is it a mistake? Will it be a mistake if older people in my family along with him do dua after the nikaah?

Q: Is there anything wrong with having an invitation from the girl's side at the time of her marriage, which is in addition to walima (on the assumption that at such a function there is a guarantee that there will not be intermingling, wastage, music, extravagance etc)?

Q: I would like to know my friend is sixteen and he is getting married to a girl who is sixteen. He is going to have his two friends as witnesses and he will give mahr and both the boy and girl will sign a contract. They both are Muslims. I wanted to know if the nikaah will be accepted as there is no guardian from the girls side because her parents says it's to early to get married.

Q: Is it halaal to conduct a second nikaah of the same couple (after sometime when the parents of one partner agree to allow the marriage)?

Q: My daughter received a wedding proposal. We have accepted, but the problem is the boy can only marry her when he has completed his studies [1 year's time]. The kids want to see one another. Can we have a contractual nikkah now, no hankie pankie, but just spend time in parents presence, then when he can earn a living have another nikkah and they can now live as man and wife Insha Allah. What can you advise mufti. We don't want the kids to do zinnah/fitna and we understand that the boy wants to finish his studies, both sides of the parents can't afford to maintain the new couple now. Please advise.

Q: My question is about whether I can have a secret nikaah with a man that loves me dearly but is afraid of Allah just like me. We're aware that we can't stay in a haram relationship so we decided to make nikaah. We cannot do it the normal way because his parents and my wali which is my father are not agreeing because of race and materialism. We are adults and we know that we're wanting the right thing. We don't want to displease our parents but we have to because displeasing Allah is worse. Is it the nikaah valid and what is the process of doing this kind of nikaah? Can we keep this nikaah as a secret for 2/3 years until this man is settled and has a better financial position to please my father in the future?

Q: What does Islam say about couples going for honeymoons after nikaah?