Nikkah is the contract between a bride and bridegroom and part of a Islamic marriage. Various traditions may differ in how nikkah is performed because different groups accept different texts as authoritative. Therefore, Sunnis will likely accept Bukhari hadith while Shi'ites will have their own collections thus producing different procedures. This contract requires the consent of both parties and allows both parties to add conditions. Islam does allow divorce so this contract is revocable. Marriage is seen a necessity in Islam and is seen as helpful in avoiding zina, or illegal sexual intercourse1.
Footnotes
1. We were with the Prophet while we were young and had no wealth whatever. So Allah's Apostle said, "O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry, because it helps him lower his gaze and guard his modesty (i.e. his private parts from committing illegal sexual intercourse etc.), and whoever is not able to marry, should fast, as fasting diminishes his sexual power." - Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 62, Number 4
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