As per Jogi Mahi_Ayaan will tell raaz n Zoya=doll - Page 4

In Islam marriage can take several steps:

1. Khitbah:(similar to Jahan e saugat in QH) This is engagement whereby the couples decide to get engaged for marriage at their convenient time. During this time they and their families try to know each other. Engagement is not married and the couples are not allowed to be alone with each other. It is forbidden for them to have intimate relations during this time. The parties can break the engagement without going through the process of divorce (talaq). They should return the engagement ring and other gifts. But they may not if there is mutual agreement and understanding.

2. Nikah: This is a formal, official and legal marriage. The Nikah is performed by the Imam, the official religious authority or any recognized person. It requires the presence of at least two witnesses, the Mahr (marital gift from the groom to his bride), the Khutbah of Nikah to join the couple together in the name of Allah. After Nikah the couple become husband and wife. In case the couple wants to break they have to have proper procedure of divorce (talaq). If the groom divorces he has to pay the half of the Mahr and return any gifts that he received from the bride's family unless they do not want him to do so. There might be other marriage expenses and matters that they have to resolve with mutual agreement or through legal proceedings. The bride does not have to do any 'Iddah (post divorce waiting period) if the marriage was not consummated.

3. Rukhsati: Literally it means "sending off". This term is used in Indio-Pakistan area. In Shari'ah it is called "Zifaf". In Arab countries it is commonly called "Dukhul" or "Dukhlah". It means the consummation of marriage. Now the spouses can be alone and can have their intimate conjugal relations. Rukhsati takes place after the Nikah. After Rukhsati the spouses begin living together as husband and wife. In most cases the Rukhsati takes place within a few hours after Nikah, but sometimes families postpone the consummation of marriage or Rukhsati for a later time. They may do it for various social or personal reasons. Sometimes the consummation is delayed because the family wants to have a big party to invite many relatives and friends to celebrate their marriage. Sometimes couple decide to delay consummation because one or both spouses want to finish their studies or would like to make better arrangement for their residence etc. There could be many reasons for the postponement of consummation and it could be for few months or years. This is permissible in Islam.

4. Walimah: This is a special feast to which the groom and his family invite their relatives and friends as well as the bride's family and friends and they celebrate the marriage. Walimah is Sunnah and highly recommended. It is a kind of formal announcement of the formation of this new family. The gifts are exchanged. In various countries Muslims have different customs of Walimah. It is not required to have the Walimah after Rukhsati. It can be done before Rukhsati or at the time of Rukhsati.

In some Muslim countries and communities there are some other customs but these four are the most common Muslim traditions in marriage.After the Nikah the couple are formally and legally husband and wife. Because Rukhsati did not take place, it does not mean that they are not legally married. A couple is considered legally married person from the time the Nikah took place