❀ Ruling on Marriage of a Mature Girl with a Young Boy ❀
Source: Fatāwā Rāshidiyyah, Page 432
Question
A girl has been mature (bālighah) for two or three years. Is it permissible to marry her to a boy who is only seven or eight years old?
✔ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
Such a marriage can be valid provided that the girl consents. Without her consent, the marriage will not be valid.
◈ Supporting Points
- Ḥaḍrat ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها was married in her childhood, and that marriage remained valid.
- In this issue, there is no difference between the two scenarios.
- If the marriage of a girl in childhood is valid — even though, after maturity, women are described as nāqiṣāt ʿaql (deficient in reasoning) — then the marriage of a young boy should also be considered valid, as boys generally develop intellect earlier, and upon maturity their intellect becomes complete.
Important Condition
- The consent of the woman is essential.
- If she does not willingly agree, then under no circumstance will the marriage be valid.
Hadhā mā ʿindī, wallāhu aʿlam bis-ṣawāb.
