Hawzah News Agency- Here's the answer to the inquiry made by an American Muslim on how to perform marriage according to Islamic principles in western countries:

Q: In the different states of America there are different laws and rules in force for marriage and divorce. But their principles are almost the same. Because there is no such Islamic religious representative in America who can register the marriage of Muslims. Therefore in such a condition what is the duty of the Muslims there?

Answer: American Muslims men and women can appoint such a person for themselves who can recite the formula of Nikah (marriage) and if the counsel recites the formula their marriage shall be Islamic. And if such a person is unavailable they can themselves recite the formula of Nikah and if they cannot recite Arabic they can use the English language.

It is not necessary according to the Islamic law that the Mehr (dower) has to be fixed at the time of marriage. Even if it is not decided at that time the lady can later, on demand, claim a reasonable Mehr from her husband. On the basis of this it is necessary to pay the Mehr to the wife but she can also forgo a part or whole of it.

Source: Philosophy of Islamic Laws: Ayatollah Nasser Makarem Shirazi, Ayatollah Jafar Sobhani