How to Have a Muslim Marriage in Canada

If you're getting married in Canada, you may have a religious ceremony or a civil one. If you're recently engaged and planning to have a Muslim wedding ceremony, work with your officiant to make sure your marriage is legally recognized in Canada.

Things You'll Need

• Marriage license
• Authorized Muslim officiant

Instructions

1. Find an authorized Muslim officiant who can perform the ceremony on the desired date. The officiant must be authorized by the government of the province to perform religious ceremonies under the Marriage Act. Most often, the officiants are imams affiliated with a mosque.

   A good way to find Muslim officiants is to contact mosques around where you will have your ceremony. The officiant might want to meet with you and your partner beforehand to discuss the ceremony and any religious requirements.

2. Apply for a marriage license. You will have to apply for the marriage license in the province in which you are getting married. For example, if you live in Toronto but are getting married in Vancouver, you will have to obtain a marriage license in Vancouver.

   Check the website of the Vital Statistics Agency of the applicable province to find out where you need to go, fees, and identification and age requirements.

3. When you receive the marriage license, make sure it is filled out correctly. In most provinces, you will receive the marriage license on the same day you apply.

4. Have the ceremony. At the ceremony, the amount of "mahr," money or property given to the bride, is agreed upon. Then the bride and groom are each asked to give their verbal agreement to the marriage. The Islamic marriage contract, called a nikah, is then signed by the bride, the groom and the witnesses, who are usually the fathers of the bride and groom. Following the signing, the officiant will give a brief sermon and du'a,or blessing.

   The bride and groom may be together for the ceremony, or they may be in separate rooms.

5. Register the marriage. After the Muslim ceremony has been completed, the officiant will help you complete the marriage license. Within 48 hours of the ceremony, the officiant should mail the completed and signed marriage license to the proper municipal agency. The agency will then register the marriage. After the marriage is registered, the agency will issue a marriage certificate.

Tips & Warnings

• Your marriage will not be registered until the municipal agency where you were married receives the completed and signed marriage certificate, so make sure your officiant doesn't forget to mail it. The marriage license is valid for 90 days after issue, and some provinces have a mandatory waiting period between the issuance of the license and the ceremony. Remember that different provinces have different fees and rules for marriage so be sure to check the website of the relevant vital statistics agency for more information.

References

• Marriage in Canada
• Muslim Marriage Ceremony
• Canada Marriage

Resources

• Canada Vital Statistics Offices