Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Any woman who marries without the permission of her guardian, her marriage is invalid. If the husband has intercourse with her, then she will receive the dowry, because he has made her private parts lawful for himself. If the guardians dispute among themselves (i.e., do not allow the marriage), then the authority to act as guardian for the one who has no father will be decided by the ruler of the time.