The Nikkah is the Islamic marriage ceremony, whereby the couple legitimise their marriage in the eyes of God by signing the marriage contract in the presence of an imam and at least 2 witnesses.

Rukhsati (رُخصتی) - "sending off" takes place when the groom and bride leave the wedding venue together with the elders of the Family. Before this point the bride and groom will have already been married in the eyes of God by the imam in the nikkah.