In Islam, the role of the mosque is not restricted to being a place for performing worship as it also plays an important social and civic role. Moreover, praying in congregation in the mosque unites people. The mosque also serves as a meeting-place where people can discuss their problems and try to find solutions for them. Conducting the marriage contract and celebrating the wedding do not have to take place in a mosque.
Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states: “There is nothing in the Islamic sources or teachings of jurisprudence to indicate that marriage, in order to be valid, must take place in a mosque. A Marriage is considered valid whether or not it is performed in a mosque as long as the following conditions are fulfilled: the parties must freely consent to the marriage, the consent of the bride’s guardian must be obtained (if she is a virgin), it must be witnessed and publicized and the (dowry) mahr must be paid to the bride. It is important to note that if marriages are not registered with the authorities of the country, one may be left without any recourse to legal support in case of dispute. As Muslims we are not supposed to do things in a haphazard and irresponsible manner. Moreover, there is no harm in abiding by the laws of the country where we live as long as they do not contradict those of Islam.
Now coming back to the point of whether a marriage must necessarily take place in a mosque, let us also remember the historical fact that during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as well as during the era of the pious caliphs, most marriages including their own, took place outside the precincts of the mosque. It is therefore safe to conclude that there is no basis for the false notion that in order for a marriage to be valid it must be performed in a mosque.”