Rukun Definition:

According to Jamila Hussain, rukun or the essential requirements for a valid marriage (nikah) in Muslim law (aka Islamic Law or Shar’ia) include:

“Marriage must be between a man and a woman;

“The bride and bridegroom must have reached marriageable age;

“A Muslim men may marry a Muslim or a kitabiyyah, but a Muslim woman may marry only a Muslim;

“The parties should be equal in status; (and)

“The bride must not be married or in iddah, and the bridegroom must not have more than three other wives.”

REFERENCES:

• Hussain, J., Islamic Law and Society (Sydney: Federation Press, 1999), page 61