Nikah 'urfi (Arabic: نكاح العرفي) is a "customary [marriage contract] that commonly requires a walī (guardian) and witnesses but not to be officially registered with state authorities.
Usually a paper, stating that the two are married, is written and at least two witnesses sign it, although others may record their commitment on a cassette tape and use other forms of documentation.
Unlike regular marriages, most 'urfi contracts are not publicised, are short-term and do not require men to provide maintenance for the women.
In many instances, 'urfi marriages are contracted without the permission of the woman's male guardian (Wali) and the relationship is often kept secret from family members.
Many Sunnis who adhere to the Ahle-Sunnath Wal Jamath and Sufi point of views have often criticized this practice and have related it to prostitution.
If the wife remarries, she can be accused of polyandry, which is punishable by seven years in prison in Egypt, or she could remain single for the rest of her life.
[citation needed] The part of a contract of marriage that is absolutely necessary, according to all Islamic schools – Sunni as well as Shia – is that it is agreed to by the man and the woman to be married and whether it is verbal or written makes no difference, hence the witnesses.
The additional requirement is bride's dower or mahr to be paid by the man to the woman; this marriage gift may be in fiscal form (money, gold etc.)
Religious supporters of the practice argue that 'urfi marriages are necessary in the contemporary era and it would enable them to pursue cohabitation with partners of their choice, without being burdened by conventionally expensive weddings, while remaining devout in conservative societies.
However, according to critics such as Dalenda Larguèche, this social phenomenon has been revived by "reactionary influences" among poorer sections of the youth and assert that it has no place in modern, open societies.