A sheikh's marriage in Germany: is the Islamic contract enough?
No. German law only recognises marriage registered at the civil registry office (Standesamt). A contract with an imam alone gives the wife no legal rights in residence, inheritance or divorce before German courts.
So many couples do both: the civil marriage at the Standesamt and the religious contract at the mosque. Agreeing on this from the start protects the wife in particular.
What are the civil marriage steps in Germany?
You start by registering your intention to marry (Anmeldung zur Eheschließung) at the Standesamt in the city where one of you lives. Passports, birth certificates and proof of address are usually required, and non-Germans often need a certificate of no impediment from their home country with certified translations.
If one partner is outside Germany, joining their spouse afterwards (family reunification) has conditions that depend on the spouse's residence status in Germany; the German embassy is the authority. Zawjni does not conclude marriages or give legal advice.
Before you write your profile
State your city (Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Cologne...) and home country in your bio, plus the languages you speak. Say whether you are open to a partner joining you from outside Germany or prefer someone already living there.