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Fatwa CenterProcedures for Marriage in Islam
Question
Salam Alikom Please I want to ask what is the right way to get married in islam meaning steps or stages , conditions and qualifications to get married.. I understand the documents are necessary but I want to know the full Islamic way to have a correct valid marriage. Thank you
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The procedures for marriage in Islam are not complicated; rather, they are very simple.
The marriage contract must fulfill some conditions which we have already clarified in Fatwa 83629; so please refer to it.
The most important of them are the presence (and consent) of the guardian and the presence of two witnesses. The guardian marries off the female under his guardianship by saying something like: “I marry off my daughter [mentions her name] to you; and the husband or his representative says “I accept.” If two people witness this contract, then the marriage is concluded.
The marriage is valid even if it is not documented, but it is desirable to document it in order to confirm the marriage bond and preserve the rights.
Ibn Juzzay from the Maaliki School of jurisprudence said: the fifth issue: in the Chapter of dowry: it is not a condition [i.e. to document the marriage contract], but it is documented, as well as all other documents, in order to confirm the rights and avoid any conflicts.” [End of quote]
It should be noted that both the man and the woman should make the best choice in regard to their future life partner; most importantly, they should take into account the criteria of religion and good moral conduct in the spouse.
Abu Hurayrah 
narrated that the Prophet said: “A woman is married for four things: for her wealth, her family lineage, her beauty and her religion. So choose the religious one.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Hurayrah also narrated that the Prophet said: “If a man proposes to you, whose religion and moral conduct are pleasing (i.e., good), then accept him (marry your daughter off to him); otherwise there will be great mischief and corruption on earth.” [Ibn Maajah]
For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 86384, 104736, and 379084.
Allah knows best.
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