Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil in the Light of the Qur’ān and Sunnah, Volume 02
In Islam, Watta Satta marriage—referred to as Nikaḥ Shighār—is considered prohibited and unlawful. This form of marriage occurs when one man gives his daughter, sister, or another woman in marriage on the condition that the other man also gives his daughter, sister, or another woman in marriage to him. Such a conditional arrangement is forbidden in Islamic law.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ prohibited Nikaḥ Shighār. It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ forbade Shighār marriage."
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5112, Saḥīḥ Muslim: 1415)
Nikaḥ Shighār is a type of marriage in which a man marries a woman from another family on the condition that the other man marries a woman from his own family. Whether a dowry (mahr) is stipulated or not, this type of marriage is ḥarām (forbidden) and fāsid (invalid) because it violates the general principles of Sharīʿah and treats women as a means of barter or exchange.
The scholars of the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatāwā stated:
"The Watta Satta (Nikaḥ Shighār) marriage is invalid due to the prohibition by the Prophet ﷺ, whether or not a dowry is set, and regardless of the consent of both parties."
(Fatāwā al-Lajnah al-Dāʾimah lil-Buḥūth al-ʿIlmiyyah wa al-Iftāʾ 18/427)
If two individuals arrange marriages of their respective women without any conditional agreement, and all Islamic requirements and conditions are fulfilled, then such marriages are permissible and there is no objection. The only requirement is that the two marriages should not be interdependent or conditional upon each other.
➊ Watta Satta (Nikaḥ Shighār) is prohibited in Sharīʿah and the Prophet ﷺ explicitly forbade it.
➋ This form of marriage is considered invalid, regardless of whether dowry is stipulated or not.
➌ Muslims should avoid such marriages and strive to conduct marriages with clarity, transparency, and freedom in accordance with Islamic teachings.
❖ Definition and Prohibition of Watta Satta (Nikaḥ Shighār) in Islam
In Islam, Watta Satta marriage—referred to as Nikaḥ Shighār—is considered prohibited and unlawful. This form of marriage occurs when one man gives his daughter, sister, or another woman in marriage on the condition that the other man also gives his daughter, sister, or another woman in marriage to him. Such a conditional arrangement is forbidden in Islamic law.
The Noble Prophet ﷺ prohibited Nikaḥ Shighār. It is narrated from ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما) that the Prophet ﷺ said:
"The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ forbade Shighār marriage."
(Saḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5112, Saḥīḥ Muslim: 1415)
➊ Opinions of the Scholars
Nikaḥ Shighār is a type of marriage in which a man marries a woman from another family on the condition that the other man marries a woman from his own family. Whether a dowry (mahr) is stipulated or not, this type of marriage is ḥarām (forbidden) and fāsid (invalid) because it violates the general principles of Sharīʿah and treats women as a means of barter or exchange.
➌ Permissible Alternative to Watta Satta
The scholars of the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Fatāwā stated:
"The Watta Satta (Nikaḥ Shighār) marriage is invalid due to the prohibition by the Prophet ﷺ, whether or not a dowry is set, and regardless of the consent of both parties."
(Fatāwā al-Lajnah al-Dāʾimah lil-Buḥūth al-ʿIlmiyyah wa al-Iftāʾ 18/427)
✿ Summary
If two individuals arrange marriages of their respective women without any conditional agreement, and all Islamic requirements and conditions are fulfilled, then such marriages are permissible and there is no objection. The only requirement is that the two marriages should not be interdependent or conditional upon each other.
➊ Watta Satta (Nikaḥ Shighār) is prohibited in Sharīʿah and the Prophet ﷺ explicitly forbade it.
➋ This form of marriage is considered invalid, regardless of whether dowry is stipulated or not.
➌ Muslims should avoid such marriages and strive to conduct marriages with clarity, transparency, and freedom in accordance with Islamic teachings.
