Islamic marriage terms, defined.

A nikah is the Islamic marriage contract, made valid by the consent of both parties, a wali acting for the bride, two witnesses, and a mahr given to the wife.

A wali is the male guardian, normally the father, who contracts a Muslim woman's marriage on her behalf and cannot marry her to anyone she has not agreed to.

Istikhara is a prayer of two rak'ahs followed by a specific supplication, asking Allah to decree a matter if it is good for your religion, your livelihood and your outcome, and to turn it away if it is not.

Khula is a separation initiated by the wife, in which she returns her mahr or an agreed amount in exchange for release from the marriage.

The walima is the meal held after a nikah to make the marriage known, and the Sunnah sets its floor at one sheep rather than any ceiling.

The mahr is the payment a husband gives his wife at marriage, which belongs to her alone and cannot be taken back.