Mynikahnow: religious marriage in the digital age

Since November 2023, the British application Mynikahnow offers Muslim couples to celebrate their religious marriage entirely online, via Zoom, in less than 48 hours. A pioneer initiative, born in the middle of the pandemic, which intends to respond to a double constraint: institutional blockages and social realities of young Muslims, often straddling several countries or legal systems. “We have realized that it was not only the health restrictions that posed a problem, but also certain legal obstacles and rigid requirements imposed by certain mosques”, explains Maimouna Ahmed, founder of the platform. The project aims to allow a union in accordance with Islamic tradition, without necessarily going through civil marriage – a condition which remains compulsory in countries like France.

A religious nikah, without legal value

The positioning is clear: Mynikahnow does not propose a marriage contract in the legal sense, but a religious union based on the pillars of the Islamic Nikah – mutual consent, presence of witnesses, dowry, and supervision by an imam. “”We do not question French legislation – each country has its standards, from its history and culture. But our platform is legally based in the United Kingdom, where the State does not interfere in the privacy of citizens in the same way. Why force Muslims to submit to a state legal framework to be able to live a relationship in accordance with their faith? “Asks Maimouna Ahmed.

The ceremony takes place online, with identity check, cameras on, and option to choose an imam in several languages. The application is available in English, French, Arabic and German, with customer support in these four languages. The two partners must install the application, validate their identity, then connect via QR code or email address. One of them can then request the Nikah ceremony and choose options such as the presence of witnesses, a paper certificate, or a souvenir video. The standard formula is offered from £ 99, with an express option within 48 hours.

Concerns about the safety of women and social validity

The Nikah without civil marriage is not a novelty, but the fact of offering it on a large scale and online changes the situation. In some contexts, this approach can weaken the position of women in the event of separation, abandonment or conflict. The team of Mynikahnow Affirms to act in complete transparency: users are informed that the Union has no legal value, and that it does not replace a civil union. But the platform leaves this responsibility to couples, without additional device to guarantee their rights in a non -religious framework. A recurring point of tension, especially for defenders of women’s law.

A service designed for a mobile generation, but not without risks

The success of Mynikahnow is also explained by the evolution of uses. More and more couples meet online, live at a distance, or face family or administrative blockages. For them, the application represents a concrete, fast, and religiously framed solution. “Many young Muslims now meet on the internet, sometimes from a distance, between continents. In these cases, a physical ceremony is not always possible ”explains Maimouna Ahmed. But this adaptation to digital reality does not answer all questions: what is a religious union worth without social or legal recognition? Who protects the spouses in the event of a dispute? And what are the limits of a fully digital Nikah?

A digitalization of divorce under control … but remotely

Another novelty: the integration of separation approaches (Talaq, Khulu, Ruju ‘) in the application. Through supervised features – such as verification by OTP code, certificates, or automatic management of IDDA – the platform wants to structure these stages too often managed in the shadows. “We also wanted to accompany the difficult moments, and in particular give women a clear framework to request a religious divorce”specifies the founder. Khulu is accessible for women, for fees of £ 80 for treatment with an imam. If the desire to supervise is real, the management of these sensitive acts through a mobile interface can give the impression of excessive simplification – even trivialization.

A delicate border between religious service and commercial logic

Service pricing begins at £ 99 (around € 115), with express formulas and additional options. Mynikahnow claims an ethical functioning, without debts or external funding, but the economic model raises another question: from when a religious approach becomes a product? The founder defends herself: “The content of the ceremony remains exactly the same. What we are invoicing is the organizational effort, the availability of imams, and the safety of the digital environment. »» Confidentiality is ensured via encrypted servers, and access is prohibited for minors.

The platform, structured as a private limited liability company (LTD) and based in London, is made up of a team of 15 people, mostly freelancers. Funded 100 % on equity (Equity), the service claims more than 700 users worldwide, with a strong presence in Europe, Canada and the Maghreb.

But the debate remains open, especially in a context where the religious tends to professionalize against the background of technological innovations.

An offer that meets a need

It would be too easy to reduce Mynikahnow to a simple opportunistic application. The platform meets a real need: that of young Muslims who wish to engage in the context of their faith, without waiting for long or inaccessible procedures. In this sense, it reflects an increasing gap between classical institutions and contemporary uses.

But it also opens a space, where the religious framework is isolated from the social and legal framework, with all the risks that this implies. It is up to everyone to judge whether this disconnection is a freedom to conquer or a decline in terms of protection and recognition. The founder remains convinced that this new path can make sense: “Islam has made the Nikah simple: consent, two witnesses, a symbolic dowry – nothing more. The Prophet ﷺ warned against complicating marriage. »»