Question
It is stated that my husband has been missing for almost eight years. He used to be addicted to drugs, and there is no information whether he is alive or dead. I have also inquired from his heirs, but they also say that there is no news of him. I have three young children, and I am facing severe difficulties in raising them, so I want to marry again. I need a Shariah ruling regarding this matter.
Answer
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
Permission of the Guardian is Necessary for Marriage
◈ A woman cannot contract her own marriage nor can she act as a guardian (wali) for another woman.
◈ The permission of the guardian is essential for the validity of the marriage.
There is a chapter on this subject in Sahih Bukhari:
بَابُ مَنْ قَالَ: لاَ نِكَاحَ إِلَّا بِوَلِيٍّ لِقَوْلِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى: {فَلاَ تَعْضُلُوهُنَّ} فَدَخَلَ فِيهِ الثَّيِّبُ، وَكَذَلِكَ البِكْرُ، وَقَالَ: {وَلاَ تُنْكِحُوا المُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنُوا} وَقَالَ: {وَأَنْكِحُوا الأَيَامَى مِنْكُمْ}
It becomes clear from this that:
◈ The validity of marriage depends on the permission of the guardian.
◈ Whether the woman is a widow or a virgin, the guardian’s authority is necessary.
◈ If the guardian had no authority, then why did Allah Almighty command guardians in these verses?
◈ Therefore, from these three verses, it is proven that marriage without the guardian’s permission will not be valid.
Evidence from Authentic Hadiths
➊ Narrated from Hazrat Abu Musa Ash’ari (RA):
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
ولي کی اجازت کے بغیر نکاح منعقد نہیں ہوتا.
This hadith is authentic and according to the majority of scholars, the guardian’s permission is essential for the validity of marriage.
➋ Narrated from Hazrat Aisha (RA):
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ نَكَحَتْ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ وَلِيِّهَا فَنِكَاحُهَا بَاطِلٌ، فَنِكَاحُهَا بَاطِلٌ، فَنِكَاحُهَا بَاطِلٌ، فَإِنْ كَانَ دَخَلَ بِهَا فَلَهَا الْمَهْرُ بِمَا اسْتَحَلَّ مِنْ فَرْجِهَا
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
◈ If a woman marries without the guardian’s permission, her marriage is invalid.
◈ If the husband has consummated the marriage, the woman will receive the dowry.
—
➌ Narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA):
عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا تُزَوِّجُ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمَرْأَةَ، وَلَا تُزَوِّجُ الْمَرْأَةُ نَفْسَهَا
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
◈ No woman should marry off another woman.
◈ Nor can a woman marry herself off.
Scholars’ Explanation
Imam Muhammad bin Ismail Al-Amir Al-Aimani writes in the explanation of this hadith:
فیه دلیل علی ان لمراة لیس لھا ولایة فی الانکاح لنفسھا ولا لغیر ھا فلا عبارة لھا فی النکاح ایجابا ولا قبولا ولا تزوج نفسھا باذن الولی ولاغیرہ ولا غیرھا بولایة.
Meaning:
◈ A woman does not have the right of guardianship (Wilayah).
◈ She cannot be her own guardian nor the guardian of another woman.
◈ She cannot marry herself off nor act as a guardian to marry off another woman.
◈ A marriage conducted under her guardianship will be legally invalid according to Shariah.
Conclusion
◈ Provided the proposal is valid, the marriage of Musammat Nazeera Bibi, daughter of Ghulam Qadir, resident of 14 Ar, has not been contracted at all.
◈ The reason is that the father, i.e., the nearest guardian, did not give permission, nor was he aware of this marriage.
◈ Nazeera’s paternal aunt’s action is completely against Shariah.
◈ In such a case, the marriage will be non-Shariah compliant and confirmation from the court is also necessary.
ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب
