Muslim Marriage in India
Muslim Marriage in India
Muslim Marriage
Written by: Harshit Khare - II year student (B.A.LL.B)-University of Petroleum And Energy Studies
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Preliminary- nikah in pre Islamic Arabia, meant different forms of sex relationship between a man and a woman established on certain terms, in pre Islamic days,
women were treated as chattels, and were not given any right of inheritance and were absolutely dependent. it was prophet mohammad who brought about a
complete change in the position of women.
Definition- The legal contract between a bride and bridegroom as part of an Islamic marriage; the contract of Islamic marriage; Islamic marriage in general.
Nikah is an Arabic term used for marriage. It means "contract". The Quran specifically refers to marriage as "mithaqun Ghalithun,". Which means "a strong
agreement".
The original meaning of the work nikah is the physical relationship between man and woman. It is also used secondarily to refer to the contract of marriage
which makes that relationship lawful.
"A contract that results in the man and woman living with each other and supporting each other within the limits of what has been laid down for them in terms of
rights and obligations."
Ibn Uthaimeen takes an even more comprehensive view of the institution of marriage in his definition of it as:
"It is a mutual contract between a man and a woman whose goal is for each to enjoy the other, become a pious family and a sound society.”
Essentials of Marriage
The essentials of a valid marriage are as follows:-
(i) There should be a proposal made by or on behalf of one of the parties to the marriage, and an acceptance of the proposal by or on behalf of the other party. A
Muslim marriage requires proposal ‘Ijab’ from one party and acceptance ‘Qubul’ from the other side. This must be done in one sitting.
(ii) The proposal and acceptance must both be expressed at once meeting. The acceptance must be corresponding to what is being offered. The marriage must
be effectively immediate. If the Wali says “ I will marry her to you after two months”, there is no marriage.
(iii) The parties must be competent. The two parties must be legally competent; i.e. they must be sane and adult.
(iv) There must be two male or one male & two female witnesses, who must be sane and adult Mahomedan present & hearing during the marriage proposal and
acceptance. (Not needed in Shia Law)
(v) Neither writing nor any religious ceremony is needed.
One of the principles of Islamic Jurisprudence says that: "The default state of all things is lawfulness until some evidence shows otherwise." Based on this, if new
foods are discovered, they are considered lawful, unless there is some specific reason or attribute which would make it forbidden for example if it is causes
intoxication. Relations between men and women do not follow this general principle and in fact are opposite to it. The principle is that: "Relations between men
and women are forbidden until some evidence shows otherwise."
Procreation (Children)
One of the most important purposes of marriage is to continue and increase the population of the Muslims. Clearly, this goal could be achieved without marriage,
but when actions are undertaken in disobedience to Allah, they do not receive the blessing of Allah and the whole society is corrupted. The Prophet said:
"Marry, for I will outnumber the other nations by you on Qiyama."
It should be stressed that the goal is not simply to produce any child that will live in the next generation. It is to produce righteous children who will be obedient to
Allah and who will be a source of reward for their parents after they die. The Prophet will NOT be boasting before the other nations on the day of Qiyama with
children of Muslim parents who left the path of Islam. Thus it is the responsibility of Muslim parents to seek the means of giving their children the training and
education they need not just to grow, but to succeed as Muslims worshipping and obeying Allah. This obligation may include migration[1], establishing of Muslim
communities and schools and other obligations. As the scholars have said in another principle of fiqht:
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"That without which an obligation cannot be fulfilled is itself obligatory."
Pleasure
Islam is the religion of the fitrah[2] - the religion which is consistent with the natural instincts and needs of mankind. It is not like the man-made (of modified)
religions which set unnatural constraints on people whether self-inflicted prohibition of marriage (nuns and monks, etc.), prohibition of divorce or monogamy. Men
are inclined toward women and women are inclined toward men. Marriage is the institution which fulfills this desire and channels it in ways pleasing to Allah Most
High. Allah mentions this attraction:
“The love of the desires for women, sons, ... has been made attractive to people.”
The Messenger of Allah himself made clear that the attraction between the sexes is something natural and not something to be denied or suppressed - only
channelled in the ways pleasing to Allah Most High, saying:
"Women and perfume have been made beloved to me of this world of yours and my peace of mind is in the prayer."
The desire of men and women for each other is an urge which needs to be fulfilled. If it is left unfulfilled, it will be a source of discord and disruption in society.
For this reason, the Prophet ordered all men who are capable of meeting the responsibilities of marriage to do it:
"Whichever of you is capable should marry for it will aid him in lowering his gaze and guarding his body (from sin). As for the one who is not capable, fasting is
his protection."
Full Amount of Mahr: Record the total value of the agreed Mahr, e.g., £5,000 in cash, or xyz weight in gold.
a) Mu‘ajjal (Immediate/Prompt): This means the total amount of Mahr payable by the Husband at the time of signing of marriage contract.
b) Mu’wajjal (Deferred): This means the portion of the Mahr which is payable to the wife at a specified point in the marriage or at the time of dissolution of the
marriage through divorce or death of the husband. Any deferred Mahr that remains unpaid at the time of dissolution becomes a debt against the former
husband’s assets.
Portion of the Mahr paid at the time of marriage: the amount of money and/or goods received as Mahr at the time of marriage. This does not include general gifts
to the bride from the bridegroom and/or his family unless these be expressly included in (a) above as part of the amount of Mahr.
Witnesses-
According to Islamic law, a witness should be sane, adult and reliable. This requirement is gender/faith neutral. Hence, the Muslim Marriage Certificate requires
to be witnessed by ‘two adult witnesses of good character’.
# TWO men can be the witness
# ONE man and TWO women can be the witness
# ONLY women can not be the witness
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Legal Disability
It means the existence of certain circumstances under which marriage is not permitted. these Absolute Incapacity.
There is absolute prohibition of marriage in case or relationship of consanguinity. In this case the situation is such that the relationship has grown up of the
person through his/her father or mother on the ascending side, or through his or her own on the descending side. Marriage among the persons associated by
affinity, such as through the wife it is not permitted. Marriage with foster mother and other related through such foster mother is also not permitted.
Consanguinity (qurabat)-it means blood relationships and bars a man from marrying-
Mother or grandmother, Sister, aunt, niece etc.
Affinity (mushaarat)-a man is prohibited from marrying-
mother-in-law, step-grandmother, danghter-in-law, step-granddaughter, etc.
Fosterage (riza)- when a child under the age of two years has been suckled by a woman other than his or her mother,the woman bocomes his foster mother,a
man may not marry his foster mother or her daughter or foster sister.
A man cannot marry his foster mother, nor foster sister, unless the foster brother and sister were nursed by the same mother at intervals widely separated. But a
man may marry the mother of his foster sister, or the foster mother of his sister.
Exception-
# Sister’s foster mother
# Foster-sister’s mother
# Foster-son’s sister
# Foster-brother’s sister
Relative Incapacity
Relative incapacity springs from case which render the marriage irregular only so long as the cause which creaes the bar exist,the moment it is removed,the
incapacity ends and the marriage becomes valid and binding.
Unlawful union
# Marrying a fifth wife
# Marrying a woman undergoing iddat
# Marrying a non-Muslim
# Absence of proper witnesses
# Woman going for a second marriage even after the existence of the first marriage.
# Marrying pregnant women
# Marrying during pilgrimage
# Marrying own divorced wife
Prohibitory Incapacity
It arises in the following cases:
(a) Polyandry- it means the fact of having more than one husband.it is forbidden in the muslim system and a married women cannot marry second time so long
as the first marriage subsists.
(b) Muslim woman marrying a non-muslim- a marriage of a muslim female with a non muslim male made whether he be Christian or jew or an idolater or a fire
worshipper is irregular in nature under sunni law and void under shia law.
Directory Incapacity
# This may arise out of: Marrying a woman “enciente”
# Prohibition of divorce
# Marriage during pilgrimage
# Marriage with a sick man
Aspects of Marriage
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(c) Marriage with a women undergoing Iddat.
(d) Marriage with a fire-worshipper.
(e) Marriage outcome of bar of unlawful conjunction.
An irregular marriage has no legal effect before consummation but when consummated give rise to several rights & obligations.
Iddat
In Islam, iddah or iddat (Arabic: period of waiting) is a period after a divorce, during which a woman may not marry another man. The period is calculated on the
number of menses that a woman has, usually three. Iddah was intended to ensure that the male parent of any offspring produced after the cessation of a nikah
would be known.
Husbands should make a will in favor of their wives for the provision of one year’s residence and maintenance, unless the wives themselves leave the house or
take any other similar step.
The directive of the Qur'an regarding the waiting period of a widow, are as under:
Whoever from amongst you dies and leaves behind wives, the wives will hold themselves [from marriage] for four months and ten days. Then, when they have
expired this period, there is no blame upon you in whatever they do regarding themselves, according to the recognized traditions. And God is fully aware of
whatever you are doing. And there is no blame upon you in proposing [marriage] to these women or in keeping such proposal to yourself - God is aware that you
would mention it to them - but do not make with them any secret commitments, except that you say a noble word to them. However, do not commit the marriage-
contract with them, until the law has reached its prescribed time.
The Muslim jurists and thinkers have generally construed this additional purpose entailed in the prescription of the waiting period for widows to be that of the
widow's 'mourning' her deceased husband. The understanding of the Muslim jurists and thinkers seems to be quite logical and in consonance with sayings
ascribed to the Prophet. However, it seems important to add that the prescription of a specified 'waiting' or 'mourning' period is for the purpose of safeguarding
the woman against defamation, slander and ill-repute in society. It is specifically for this purpose that others are directed against making a 'secret' commitment of
marriage with the widow or deciding about the time and place of the marriage-contract, during the prescribed period. It is reported that Muhammad advised
widows to be extra modest in their appearance and to even refrain from wearing any fragrance, during this period. All these directives and advice seem to point
to the fact that a woman should not only be, but also appear to be in a state of mourning, so that her social circles do not get a chance to say a negative word
about her.
Duration of Iddat
The Iddat of divorce commences immediately upon the pronouncement of repudiation and in case of invalid marriage if they are separated voluntarily then from
the time of separation but if the separation is effected by the court then it starts with the issuance of judicial decree. In case of widowhood the period of Iddat
begins with the decease of husband. If the information of divorce or of her husband’s death does not reach the wife until after the expiration of Iddat period, she
is not bound to observe Iddat. The period is considered to have been passed.
If the marriage is terminated by divorce or in consequence of annulment by the Court, then the Quran has specifically explained the situation in such words,
“women who are divorced shall wait, keeping themselves apart, three (monthly) courses. And it is not lawful for them that they should conceal that which Allah
hath created in their wombs if they are believers in Allah and the last day.” Therefore the divorced woman is bound to observe Iddat for three menstrual cycles
i.e. the period of three complete courses of menstruation.
In the above two cases if the marriage has not been consummated nor any valid retirement has taken place then after the termination of marriage the woman is
not required to observe Iddat.
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In case of pregnancy, the widow is bound to observe the Iddat for a period which ever is the longest. i.e. if the child is born before the period of four months and
ten days then her Iddat is not over with the delivery but she will complete the normal specified period of Iddat (four moths & ten days). If the child is expected to
be born after the specified period, then the Iddat will lost up till the delivery of a child. They consider it binding upon all widows who are pregnant or non
pregnant, so according to their view the fore mentioned period of four months and ten days is the minimum obligatory period for a widow.
Conclusion
After analyzing thoroughly the system of Islamic marriage a reasonable and prudent way of thinking would always conclude that the Islamic personal law with
regards to marriage and divorce need to be changed a lot so to maintain its status in modern society.
Marriage is a religious duty of every Muslim and it is considered to be a moral safeguard and a social need. The Prophet has also said Marriage is my tradition
whosoever keeps away there from is not from amongst me.
Unlike Hindu where the marriage is a sacrament, marriages in Muslims have a nature of civil contract. Marriage is necessary for the legitimization of a child.
When the marriage is done in accordance to the prescribed norms it creates various rights and obligations on both the parties.
It appears that Islamic law of marriage and divorce is not identical to the man made laws which are changed by man himself moment after moment. It is evident
that the position of man and woman in the social set up of the community, is equal in every respect, but keeping in view the mindset of both the genders, Islam
segregates the rights, duties and functions of both the gender and then declares their status with regard to family matters.
If it is asked that are man and woman equal in Islamic way of life? There would not be simple positive or negative way of answer rather, one must scrutinize,
examine and inspect closely and thoroughly their respective rights, duties and functions. And then placing a complete picture in front, it may be possible to
answer the above question. In other societies of the world, the state of affairs is not in concurrence to Islamic way of life. Those other societies always try to
claim that man and woman are equal in every respect which is not a natural phenomenon.
Endnotes:
[1] hijrah
[2] the religion which is consistent with the natural instincts and needs of mankind
[3] Dower-amonut paid by bridegroom to bride
[4] Iddat e wafaat
[5] iddat of Talaaq
[6] (1886) 8 All. 149
[7] (1928) 30 bom. LR 134
[8] AIR 2006 All 60
The author can be reached at: harshit@legalserviceindia.com / ph no: +91-9634007061 / Print This Article
Also Read:
Guardianship Under Muslim Law:
The source of law of guardianship and custody are certain verses in the Koran and a few ahadis. The Koran, the alladis and other authorities on Muslim law
emphatically speak of the guardianship of the property of the minor, the guardianship of the person is a mere inference.
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Custody Under Muslim Law:
The first and foremost right to have the custody of children belongs to the mother and she cannot be deprived of her right so long as she is not found guilty of
misconduct. Mother has the right of custody so long as she is not disqualified.
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