Is it a condition that only the authorized legal officer may perform the marriage contract, and is it valid for one of the witnesses to perform it?

The Shaykh : ...merely by beautification. And you know the important and beneficial rule: whatever whose cause existed in the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) but he did not do it, the Sunnah is to leave it. So we say: when the matter is ready, the contract is made. But here is a question: Is it a condition that only the one to whom the matter has been delegated by the rulers, who is called today the authorized legal officer, may perform the contract, or is it valid without him? The answer is: it is valid without him, without doubt. It is valid without him. And is it valid for the authorized legal officer to be one of the witnesses? No.

The questioner : It is valid.

The Shaykh : It is valid. It is valid for one of the witnesses to be the authorized legal officer, contrary to what the common people imagine today, that they think the authorized legal officer is outside the witnesses. No.