Request A Marriage Commissioner
​ISSA offers Marriage Commissioner services for both Islamic and civil marriages. Read below to request a Marriage Commissioner and find information on the steps and requirements.
What Will You Need?
Couples need to:
1. Obtain a marriage license from Vital Statistics Manitoba.
2. Review/discuss ISSA Islamic marriage contract and Islamic
3. Marriage requirements and ceremony with ISSA marriage officer or staff.
4. Discuss date and venue with ISSA marriage officer for ceremony.
5. Bring marriage license to ceremony as ISSA marriage officer will.
6. Conduct both civil and Islamic ceremony and hand in completed.
7. Marriage license back to vital statistics.
8. Donation to ISSA for ceremony requested.
9. Ensure there are witnesses to sign documents at ceremony
Two Types of Ceromonies
The nikkah (or nikah) is an Islamic marriage ceremony. "The nikah ceremony is to unite a couple in marriage by professing and signing an agreement between the couple. It's officiated by an imam, a leader in the faith community, and joins the couple as spouses
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Important note: The nikah wedding ceremony isn't legally binding, which means you'll still need to get a marriage license. The ceremony only marries the couple under Islamic law, which is required for Muslim to-be-weds.
According to Manitoba Family Law, A civil ceremony is a non-religious rite and must be performed by a marriage commissioner. Vital Statistics has a list of marriage commissioners who are authorized by law to perform civil marriages in Manitoba. A marriage ceremony, whether religious or civil, may take place anywhere in Manitoba (e.g., in a church, private home, park or hotel). At least two witnesses must be present and the couple must apply together for the marriage licence. It must be obtained at least 24 hours before their wedding, unless the person performing the ceremony is persuaded that the time period should be waived because of exceptional circumstances. The wedding must take place within three months after the licence is issued
Family Law In Manitoba
Who cannot legally marry?
Persons under the age of 16: Under Canada’s Civil Marriage Act, a person under 16 is prohibited from marrying. Persons between the ages of 16 and 18 years of age cannot marry unless a judge gives written consent, or in other circumstances set out in The Marriage Act.
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Closely related persons: A person may not marry their grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling (brother or sister).
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Persons who have committees appointed for them under The Mental Health Act cannot marry, unless a psychiatrist certifies in writing that they are able to understand the nature of marriage and its duties and responsibilities.
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Anyone who is 16 years of age or older, who has been divorced or whose spouse has died, may remarry without the consent of any other person. However, satisfactory proof of the divorce or death must be shown before a marriage licence can be obtained.
