Frequently asked questions

Please contact us to discuss arrangements for ceremonies outside Birmingham. Availability and any additional costs will depend on the location and the registered Alim selected.

Yes. ShiaJamaat can arrange the Conversion to Islam (Kalema) ceremony before the Nikaah. The Conversion to Islam form needs to submitted. Please indicate this when submitting your Nikaah application and we will advise on the arrangements and any combined scheduling.

You must submit your application at least 14 days before your intended ceremony date. Applications submitted with less than 14 days' notice may incur additional charges. We strongly recommend applying as early as possible to allow time for document verification and Alim confirmation.

Yes. You may choose your own Alim to conduct the Nikaah, provided they are registered with ShiaJamaat. An Alim who is not yet registered can complete registration via our Join Our Team page. ShiaJamaat can also arrange a registered Alim on your behalf if you do not have one in mind.

If you have been married before, you must provide one of the following: a UK Decree Absolute or final order; a legal divorce certificate from any country; or a Talaaq Certificate if your former spouse is still alive. If you were widowed, you must provide the death certificate of your former spouse. Original documents and copies are both required.

The Nikaah Certificate issued by ShiaJamaat is a religious document and is not a legally binding civil marriage certificate. To be legally married in the UK, you must also register your marriage separately with a civil registrar. The Nikaah Certificate is accepted by Islamic organisations and community bodies as evidence of religious marriage.

Two witnesses must be present at the Nikaah ceremony. The witnesses must be present in person — they cannot attend remotely.

A civil divorce (Decree Absolute) is a legal dissolution of your marriage in the eyes of UK law, obtained through the courts. A Talaaq is the Islamic dissolution of your marriage according to Sharia. Both are separate and both are necessary. The Talaaq Certificate is required for any future Nikaah ceremony.

Islam strongly encourages reconciliation before divorce. ShiaJamaat requires all couples to have undergone a mediation process before a Talaaq petition is accepted. This is both a religious requirement and a procedural safeguard to ensure every opportunity for reconciliation has been genuinely explored. A certificate confirming that mediation was attempted and unsuccessful is needed.

Yes. Talaaq is a formal process that involves both parties. Contact details for the Respondent are required at the time of application. Our team will contact the Respondent as part of the process.

The duration varies depending on the complexity of the case and the responsiveness of both parties. Please allow several weeks from the date of application. Prompt responses to all correspondence from our team will help the process proceed as quickly as possible.

The £275 registration fee is payable on approval — meaning it is only charged once your application has been reviewed and accepted for processing. If your application is not accepted because the pre-conditions are not met, no fee is charged at that stage.

The Talaaq Certificate is a religious document and is not a legally binding civil document. It is accepted by Islamic organisations and community bodies as evidence of Islamic divorce. Your civil divorce (Decree Absolute) is the legally recognised document and must be obtained separately through the UK courts.

Once a Talaaq Certificate is issued and the Iddah (waiting period) has elapsed in accordance with Islamic law, both parties are free to remarry. You will need to present the Talaaq Certificate when applying for a future Nikaah through ShiaJamaat or any other Islamic authority.

Yes. All matters discussed during the mediation process are treated with the strictest confidence. ShiaJamaat is committed to providing a safe and trusted space where both parties can speak openly, with the assurance that all proceedings are conducted with dignity, respect, and discretion.

Records and notes relating to mediation sessions are maintained solely by ShiaJamaat for internal case management purposes. These records are strictly confidential and exist to support the integrity of the process. They will not be used against either party in any capacity and are not available for disclosure to the parties involved.

The duration varies from case to case and depends largely on the responsiveness and cooperation of both parties. Some matters may be resolved within as little as two weeks, while more complex situations may take considerably longer.

We kindly ask all parties to respond promptly to any correspondence from our team, as delays in communication will inevitably extend the process.

The outcome of mediation is entirely dependent on the willingness and cooperation of both parties. ShiaJamaat and its mediators will facilitate the process with fairness and impartiality; however, we are unable to compel or guarantee any specific outcome.

A sincere commitment from both sides gives the best possible chance of reaching a resolution that is just and agreeable to all. We make du'a that Allah (SWT) eases your matters and guides all parties towards a peaceful resolution.

The registration fee of £20 is a gesture of commitment. It confirms that you are approaching this process with sincerity and a genuine desire to find resolution. Mediation is a serious undertaking, and the quality of its outcome depends greatly on the willingness and readiness of all involved.

This fee is non-refundable and goes solely towards the operational costs of the service.

Depending on the nature and complexity of your case, additional costs may arise as the process progresses. Our team will communicate any such requirements clearly and in advance, so that all parties are fully informed before proceeding.

Once your application and registration fee have been received, you will be sent a confirmation acknowledging that your case has been logged and is under review by our team.

Yes. Our team will review and verify the information provided in your application to ensure all necessary details are in order before any further steps are taken.

Once your application has been verified, our team will contact the Respondent — using the details you have provided — to inform them that a mediation request has been submitted and to invite their participation in the process.

Mediation can only proceed with the consent of both parties. If the Respondent declines or does not respond within a reasonable time, our team will inform you and advise on the options available to you at that stage.

Once consent is received from both parties, our team will carefully assess the background and nature of the situation. A suitable mediator will then be allocated to the case, and both parties will be informed of the arrangements before any sessions begin.

There is no formal knowledge test required for the conversion ceremony itself. However, we encourage anyone considering conversion to seek learning and understanding of the faith beforehand. If you would like to speak with an Alim before your ceremony, please mention this in your application and we will arrange it.

ShiaJamaat requires applicants to be at least 18 years of age. Those under 18 should seek guidance from a trusted family member, guardian, or community leader.

The ceremony itself is brief — typically 15 to 30 minutes. Please allow additional time for document verification and any preparatory discussion with the Alim.

Yes. A Conversion Certificate is issued by ShiaJamaat upon completion of the ceremony. This is accepted by Islamic organisations and community bodies as evidence of your acceptance of Islam.

Yes. ShiaJamaat can arrange the Kalema ceremony immediately before the Nikaah on the same occasion. Please mention this when submitting your application so both can be scheduled and the Alim can prepare accordingly.

The £20 fee applies within 2.5 miles of Birmingham city centre. Beyond that, fees are agreed on a case-by-case basis depending on distance and travel. Please contact us before applying to confirm the applicable fee for your location.

Yes, completely free. There is no charge, no subscription, and no account required. The service is provided by ShiaJamaat as a community benefit.

No. ShiaJamaat does not store, log, or retain any information you enter into the generator — not your name, address, assets, family details, or email address. Your data is used solely to generate your Will document and deliver it to you. Once the email is sent, the data is not kept.

Please check your spam or junk mail folder first. If the email has not arrived within a few minutes, please contact us with your name and we will assist you.

An Islamic Will prepared using our generator is intended to be a valid Will under the Wills Act 1837 for England and Wales, provided it is properly signed in the presence of two independent witnesses who also sign the document. For complex estates, significant assets, or specific legal concerns, we strongly recommend also consulting a qualified solicitor.

The generator is designed specifically for residents of England and Wales under the Wills Act 1837. Those in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or outside the UK should seek independent legal advice regarding Will preparation under the law of their jurisdiction before using this tool.

Yes. You can return to the generator at any time and complete a new Will. A later properly executed Will revokes an earlier one. Keep your most recent Will in a safe place and let your executor know where it is stored.

For those who would prefer personal guidance from a qualified Shia Alim — particularly where complex religious matters arise or where English is not a first language — an Assisted Will Service is available. Contact ShiaJamaat to arrange an appointment with a registered Shia Ithna-Asheri scholar, in person or remotely.

Khums most commonly applies to net annual surplus income — income remaining after legitimate living expenses at the end of your Khums year. It also applies to other categories including minerals extracted from the ground, treasure found, and proceeds of sea diving, among others defined in Islamic jurisprudence. The Individual Calculator covers the most commonly applicable category of annual surplus income.

Khums is calculated at the end of your personal Khums year — the anniversary of the date on which you first began earning or first became obligated to pay Khums. This date is individual to you and is not tied to the Hijri or Gregorian calendar year. If you are unsure of your Khums date, please consult a qualified Islamic scholar.

ShiaJamaat provides calculators to help you determine the amount due. For guidance on where to submit your Khums payment, please consult your Marja' (religious authority) or a qualified Islamic scholar. ShiaJamaat does not collect Khums payments.

Use the Individual Calculator if you are calculating Khums on personal income, savings, and personal expenses. Use the Business Calculator if you need to calculate Khums on business profits and business assets. If you are a sole trader or company director and need to calculate both personal and business Khums, you may need to use both calculators. If you are unsure, please contact us and we will advise.

A dedicated first-time payer calculator is currently in development. In the meantime, please contact us and we will advise on the correct approach for your situation, as first-time calculations may involve specific considerations regarding past accumulated wealth.

No. The calculators are tools to assist with the mathematical calculation of Khums. They are not a substitute for the guidance of your Marja' or a qualified Islamic scholar. For complex financial situations — such as business partnerships, mortgages, or inheritance — we recommend consulting a scholar alongside using the calculator.