A glossary of Arab marriage terms

Amanina is a marriage-intentioned matchmaking app for the Arab diaspora, and this glossary explains the terms families ask about most — wali, mahr, khitba, nikah and more — across Muslim and Christian-Arab practice, described plainly and honoured at your pace.

Waliوليّ

The wali is the guardian — most often a father or close male relative — who supports and represents a bride as a marriage is arranged. His role and how essential it is vary across Islamic schools and communities, and among Christian-Arab families it is generally a matter of family blessing rather than a formal requirement. On Amanina you can invite a wali or a trusted family elder to take part, with your consent and at your pace — we welcome family without ever standing in for one.

Mahrمهر

In Islamic marriage, the mahr is a gift the groom gives to the bride as her own — a mark of commitment and a security that belongs to her. Its form and amount are agreed between the couple and their families and differ widely across communities; part may be given at marriage and part deferred. Amanina keeps conversations about mahr where they belong — between you and your families — and simply helps considered introductions reach that point with dignity.

Nikah / Katb al-Kitabنكاح / كتب الكتاب

The nikah, often called katb al-kitab (the writing of the contract), is the Islamic marriage contract that makes the marriage official, typically witnessed and involving consent, the wali and the mahr. Details and the surrounding celebration vary by community and school. Amanina is where an introduction can begin; the nikah itself is entered with your family and community, in your own tradition.

Khitbaخِطبة

The khitba is the betrothal or engagement — the period after a proposal is accepted and before the marriage is finalised, when two people and their families come to know one another with marriage in view. It is a promise, not yet the contract, and its customs differ across Muslim and Christian-Arab families. Amanina is built for this intention from the start, offering a few considered introductions rather than endless browsing.

Kafa'aكفاءة

In Islamic tradition, kafa'a refers to compatibility or suitability between two people considering marriage — commonly understood across faith, character, family and circumstance. What weight it carries is a matter families and communities read differently. Amanina shows the reasoning behind every introduction openly, so you can see how you might suit one another and decide for yourself.

Iddaعِدّة

The idda is a waiting period a woman observes in Islamic practice after a marriage ends through divorce or widowhood, before she may remarry. Its length and rules are defined within Islamic tradition and are a matter for religious guidance, not for an app to determine. Amanina simply welcomes members when they are ready to seek marriage again, at their own pace and without pressure.

Iklilإكليل

The iklil, or crowning, is the sacrament of marriage in many Christian-Arab traditions — Orthodox and Eastern churches especially — in which the couple are crowned as a sign of their union and blessing. It is celebrated in church according to each denomination's rite. Amanina welcomes Christian Arabs alongside their Muslim, Druze and secular neighbours, and honours the path each tradition takes to marriage.

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