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NikkahGram, a UK-registered matchmaking service for Muslims, has drawn attention for its operational practices, which include advertising for specific marital preferences and offering advice on marital dynamics. The platform, founded in 2023, states its purpose is to "facilitate marriage for Muslims who stick to core Islamic values of modesty and submission to Allah without modern excuses."
According to The Telegraph, NikkahGram describes itself as a service for Muslim men seeking a "shy, untouched spouse" and also caters to those interested in polygamous marriages. The company promotes women under the age of 35 who are virgins as "ideal first wives."
The platform's social media presence, including its Instagram page with over 7,000 followers, features various videos offering advice on marital relationships. One such clip, addressing the topic of divorce, outlines a multi-step approach for husbands in cases of perceived disobedience from wives. This approach suggests a gradual escalation from advice, to temporary separation in bed, and then to a light physical admonishment. The video explicitly states this should not involve a "baseball bat" but be a "gradual" process.
NikkahGram's website also lists Dr. Asif Munaf as an "associate coach" available for consultations on Muslim marriages. Dr. Munaf was previously suspended from the medical register following public comments.
The company also actively promotes polygamous marriages, where men may seek a second, third, or fourth wife. NikkahGram advises men against registering these Islamic marriages in Western countries, where polygamy is generally not recognized under civil law. In the UK, while polygamous marriages entered into abroad under specific conditions might be recognized for certain purposes, entering into a polygamous marriage within the UK is not legally valid and can constitute the criminal offense of bigamy.
Another social media post by NikkahGram, featuring a Muslim fitness influencer, made unsubstantiated claims regarding the potential link between non-virgin women and cancer due to "exchange of saliva, even exchange of looks, and eyes, and even pheromones." There is no scientific or medical evidence to support these assertions.
Furthermore, a post from last September indicated the company encourages "brothers to get married from overseas, second wife especially but first wives too." It suggested such partners would be "less prone to feminism, more traditional, and many virgins," and appealing to those "tired of Western sisters" who desire a wife who "respects your role as a man and a provider, and hers as a homemaker."
NikkahGram has publicly defended its operations, stating that it "operates strictly within UK law and Islamic principles." A company spokesperson asserted, "We provide a religious matrimonial service that reflects the values and preferences of many practicing Muslims. All participation is voluntary, and our platform facilitates lawful introductions between consenting adults who seek to marry in accordance with their faith. We do not promote abuse, coercion, or illegality. We only discuss and endorse faith-based preferences that are protected under religious freedom laws."
MailOnline has sought further comment from NikkahGram and the UK Government regarding these practices.
