❖ Extracted from the book “Wālidayn aur Aulād ke Ḥuqūq” by Shaykh Jāwīd Iqbāl Sīālkōtī ❖
✿ A Woman Cannot Contract Marriage Without Her Guardian (Walī) ✿
Hadith 1: No Marriage Without a Guardian
Arabic Text:
عن أبي موسى أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:
«لا نِكَاحَ إِلَّا بِوَلِيٍّ»
Translation:
Abū Mūsā رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“There is no marriage except with a guardian (walī).”
[Ṣaḥīḥ] Abū Dāwūd – Kitāb al-Nikāḥ – Chapter: Concerning the Guardian: 2083 Hadith 2: Marriage Without Walī Is Invalid
Arabic Text:
عن عائشة رضي الله عنها أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال:
«أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ نَكَحَتْ بِغَيْرِ إِذْنِ وَلِيِّهَا فَنِكَاحُهَا بَاطِلٌ، فَنِكَاحُهَا بَاطِلٌ، فَنِكَاحُهَا بَاطِلٌ»
Translation:
ʿĀ’ishah رضي الله عنها narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Any woman who marries without the permission of her walī—her marriage is invalid, her marriage is invalid, her marriage is invalid.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ] al-Tirmidhī – Kitāb al-Nikāḥ – Chapter: No Marriage Without a Walī: 1102 Hadith 3: A Woman Cannot Marry Herself or Another Woman
Arabic Text:
عن أبي هريرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:
«لَا تُزَوِّجُ الْمَرْأَةُ الْمَرْأَةَ، وَلَا تُزَوِّجُ الْمَرْأَةُ نَفْسَهَا، فَإِنَّ الزَّانِيَةَ هِيَ الَّتِي تُزَوِّجُ نَفْسَهَا»
Translation:
Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“A woman must not marry another woman (on her behalf), nor should a woman marry herself. Verily, the one who marries herself is a fornicatress.”
[Ṣaḥīḥ] Ibn Mājah – Kitāb al-Nikāḥ – Chapter: No Marriage Without a Walī: 1882❖ Explanation:
✔ A woman cannot independently conduct her marriage contract.
✔ A valid Islamic nikāḥ requires the approval and involvement of her walī (male guardian).
✔ Walī refers to the nearest male relative from her paternal side (such as father, brother, uncle).
✔ Consent from both the walī and the woman is essential for the marriage to be valid.
✔ This ruling serves to safeguard women's rights, maintain family structure, and prevent secret or invalid unions.
◈ Key Points:
① Nikāḥ without a walī is void according to authentic prophetic traditions.
② Even if the woman consents, the marriage is not valid unless her guardian also agrees.
③ A woman cannot act as her own walī or appoint another woman to marry on her behalf.
④ Both the woman’s and the guardian’s permission are mandatory in Shariah.
