Can you get married in Ramadan?
Question · One of the most asked questions about Ramadan
My fiancé and I have found a date for our nikah, but it falls in the middle of Ramadan. Some relatives say it's not allowed to marry during the holy month. Is that true?
Short answer
Yes, you can get married in Ramadan; the marriage contract (nikah) is valid in any month. The only rule is that intimate relations must wait until after sunset.
Detailed answer
Yes. There is nothing in Islam that forbids marrying in Ramadan. The marriage contract (nikah) can be done in any month of the year, and a nikah held in Ramadan is fully valid. Ramadan is a blessed month, and starting a marriage in it is a good thing.
What the Quran and Sunnah say
Allah encourages marriage: "And marry the unmarried among you…" (An-Nur 24:32). He did not set aside any month in which marriage is forbidden. The only time the nikah itself is not allowed is when a person is in the state of ihram for Hajj or Umrah.
Islam also rejects the idea of "unlucky" months for weddings. In the time before Islam, some people avoided marrying in Shawwal. Aisha pointed out that the Prophet (peace be upon him) married her in Shawwal, and she was dearer to him than anyone (Muslim).
The one thing to keep in mind
Married couples must not have intimate relations during the fasting hours, from dawn to sunset. Between sunset and dawn it is allowed: "It has been made lawful for you, on the nights of the fast, to go to your wives" (Al-Baqarah 2:187). See intimacy at night in Ramadan and what happens if a couple has intercourse while fasting.
In practice
- A simple nikah can take place after Asr or after iftar, with family and witnesses.
- Many couples prefer to hold the nikah in Ramadan and the larger celebration after Eid; both are fine.
- Think about tiredness and the time needed for prayer and Taraweeh when planning the day.
- If a party is planned, see can we hold a wedding party during Ramadan?
Why some people avoid it
Some families simply prefer to keep Ramadan for worship, or find it hard to organise meals and guests during the fast. That is a personal choice, not a religious rule. If both families agree, a Ramadan nikah is a beautiful start.
May Allah bless your marriage and fill it with mercy and tranquillity.
These answers give the general ruling based on the Quran, the Sunnah and the mainstream view of scholars. For a personal situation, ask a qualified scholar you trust.
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