Is it sunnah to say prayers (dua) on Thursday (Friday night) after the night prayer and to renew nikah?

Is it sunnah to say "Salatan tunjina" supplication and to repent and ask for forgiveness on Thursday after the night prayer? Why is nikah renewed? Is it appropriate?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Thursday evening is the beginning of Friday and prayers are acceptable on Friday; therefore, we are advised to say prayers on that night and on Friday. It is not necessary to read the supplication "Salatan tunjina" that night. This supplication can be preferred due to its virtue.

A nikah is made only once and it is not broken unless a divorce occurs. Therefore, renewing nikah is not necessary. Repentance and asking for forgiveness made in many places with renewing nikah are good things. However, renewing nikah is not religiously appropriate due to two aspects:

1. Since renewing nikah is a marriage contract both the husband himself or his deputy and the wife have to be present. If the husband is appointed as proxy by his wife, it is enough. However, the majority of the congregation who renew nikah is not appointed as proxy by their wives.    

2. In nikah, two witnesses that will hear the marriage words are necessary but while renewing nikah in the mosque, everybody follows the imam and repeats his words; nobody hears the words of others; therefore, no religious nikah is regarded to have been made.

(Halil GÜNENÇ, Günümüz Meselelerine Fetvalar, II/130)

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