ijabqubool

Ijabqubool is a term used in discussions of Muslim marriage to refer to the essential exchange of consent in a nikah. The word is a compound formed from ijab, meaning offer or proposal, and qubool, meaning acceptance. It is most commonly encountered in South Asian Muslim communities and in scholarly or sociolinguistic contexts, where it serves as a shorthand for the two-part act that completes the marriage contract.

During a traditional nikah, the contract is considered valid when the proposer states ijab and the partner or her representative responds with qubool, both often uttered in the same ceremony and witnessed by others. The exact ritual form—language, order, and whether guardians or witnesses are required—varies by jurisdiction, school of law, and local custom. In some traditions, a wali (guardian) is required for a woman's consent, while other communities permit independent consent.

Today, ijabqubool is frequently used in academic writing or online discourse to discuss the two-stage process of consent in marriage rather than as a formal term of law. It illustrates how the offer and acceptance operate together, and how language and ritual codify marital commitments in different cultures.

Etymology: ijab from Arabic meaning “offer” and qubool from Persian/Urdu meaning “acceptance.” The term’s usage reflects the cross-cultural layering of Islamic practice with South Asian linguistic influence.