Question 1440) - How is marriage contracted?

A: It is contracted by offer and acceptance, with words in the past tense; or at least one in the past tense and one in the future tense. An example of the first is where the guardian says, "Zawwajtuha lyyaka ?I have married her to you:' and the groom replies, "Qabiltuha -I have accepted her." An example of the second is where the groom says, "Marry her to me:' and the guardian says, "I have given her to you in marriage." Whilst the groom used the command tense it is interpreted as future tense here.

~ al-Quduri ~