Marriage under Muslim Law

Posted November 25, 2010 by K in Muslim Law. Tagged: bsolute and !elative Pro"ibitions, #atil $asid, %ssentials o& Marriage, K'( !)*L)#*L*+', Kinds o& Marriage, Marriage during ,ddat, Marriage o& a minor, Marriage under Muslim Law, Ni-a", .&&er and //e0tan/e 1,2ab and 3ubul4, .0tion o& Puberty, or Muta Marriage, !estitution o& /on2ugal rig"ts, 5a"i". 2 6omments

INTRODUCTION
,n t"e 0re),slam rabia, t"e laws were &avourable towards males and dis/riminatory against t"e women. Polygamy "ad to be a//ounted &or in a very &ew blood relations"i0s li-e in marriage wit" one7s real mot"er or sister. Marriages were o& di&&erent -inds and divor/e was sim0le and easy &or t"e man. 8it" absolute rig"ts vested in men and no /"e/-s led to men denying t"e women t"eir basi/ rig"ts.

,slam broug"t wit" it a due status &or women and regarded t"em as digni&ied members o& t"e so/iety. 9Ni-a"7 literally means 9to tie u0 toget"er7 and re&erred to t"e ,slami/ marriage. ,t is a matrimonial /ontra/t as well as an institution t"at gives t"e women a 0arti/ular and "ig" status in t"e so/iety. Ni-a" was to ensure stability in a married li&e as it bound bot" t"e 0artners toget"er &or an inde&inite 0eriod and also re:uired t"e woman to be "onoured wit" t"e ma"r.

,slam allows limited 0olygamy, i.e. &our wives at a time. T"is was allowed as during t"e numerous wars during t"e Pro0"et7s time in rabia, many Muslim men lost t"eir lives. T"us, t"e women outnumbered t"e men. T"e war)widows and or0"ans be/ame destitute as t"ey "ad no standing in t"e so/iety and lead miserable lives. ,n order to 0revent in2usti/e, 3uran allows limited 0olygamy t"roug" t"e &ollowing yat: ;marry o& t"e women, w"o seem good to you, two or t"ree or &our, i& you &ear t"at you /annot do 2usti/e to so many, t"en one.<

=usti/e re&ers to e:ual love and a&&e/tion as well as boarding and lodging. T"e 3uran "as anot"er yat t"at ;you will not be able to deal e:ually between your wives "owever

mu/" you wis" to do so<. T"us, it /an be sa&ely in&erred t"at t"oug" ,slam 0ermits &our wives at a time it is a/tually in &avour o& monogamy. T"e Mota>ila Muslims &ollow monogamy stri/tly. #ut Muslims all over t"e globe &ollow t"e traditions o& t"e Pro0"et and 0ra/tise 0olygamy.

s 0er t"e statisti/s, ,ndian Muslims seem to 0re&er monogamy. T"oug" t"ey are allowed to "ave &our wives as 0er t"e law, t"e Muslim government servants re:uire t"e government7s 0ermission be&ore /ontra/ting t"e se/ond marriage. Muslim /ountries li-e Tur-ey and Tunisia "ave laws &or monogamy. Pa-istan "as dis/ouraged 0olygamy by im0lementing laws t"at ma-es it di&&i/ult to marry two or more times.

DEFINITION

'edaya says t"at ;Marriage im0lies a 0arti/ular /ontra/t used &or t"e 0ur0ose o& legalising /"ildren.

=usti/e Ma"mood "as de&ined t"e Muslim marriage as ;a 0urely /ivil /ontra/t<.

NATURE AND CONCEPT OF MARRIAGE

T"e ob2e/t o& a Muslim marriage is to legalise /"ildren and to a large e?tent to regulate and validate t"e se?ual relations. 0art &rom being a /ivil /ontra/t, it is also a so/ial and religious institution.

LEGAL ASPECT

Legally s0ea-ing a Muslim marriage is a /ontra/t &or it "as a &ew elements o& a /ontra/t. T"e 0arties "ave to be /om0etent and o&&er, a//e0tan/e and &ree /onsent &orm an im0ortant 0art. 8it"in a limit, t"e 0arties /an de/ide t"e terms o& t"e marriage and in /ase o& brea/"@ t"ere are 0rovisions &or t"e rig"ts and obligations o& t"e 0arties. ,t /an be sa&ely said t"at marriage is very similar to a /ontra/t.

SOCIAL ASPECT

Marriage is a so/ial institution and a so/ial met"od to give an e:ual status to women. T"e dower, w"i/" is essential &or a Muslim marriage, 0rovides a se/urity net &or t"e woman in /ase o& need. Limited 0olygamy "el0s raise t"e woman7s standing and dignity in t"e so/iety. #y 0la/ing 0ro"ibitions on t"e marriage, t"e relations"i0s o& &amilies /an be regulated and t"e ill e&&e/ts o& in breeding are avoided.

RELIGIOUS ASPECT

Marriage is t"e tradition o& t"e 0ro0"et as well as 0resent in t"e words o& 3uran. T"us, a 0erson w"o marries gets religious bene&its and t"e abstainer would "ave /ommitted a sin. ,n ANIS BEGAM v MOHD. ISTAFA (1933)55 All, 743, it "as been "eld to be a religious sa/rament.

ESSENTIAL OF A VALID MARRIAGE

marriage is a valid marriage or 5a"i" only i& it is re/ognised by t"e /ourts to be law&ul. I) COMPETENCE OF T E PARTIES

a) Age !" Pu#er$% $or marriage, dower and divor/e, t"e age o& ma2ority under t"e Muslim law is t"e age o& 0uberty and not 1A years o& age. T"oug" 'edaya says t"e minimum age o& 0uberty &or a

boy is 12 years and &or a girl it is B years@ it "as been &i?ed at 15 years o& age by t"e Privy 6oun/il in t"e year 1B1C. T"us, a boy or a girl o& 15 years o& age will be 0resumed to "ave attained t"e age o& 0uberty unless t"e /ontrary is 0roved.
Min!r&s Marriage

*nder Muslim law, a 0erson under 15 years o& age is 0resumed to be a minor and "as no /a0a/ity to give /onsent &or marriage. *nless and until t"e guardian7s /onsent is not obtained t"e marriage will be void. +uardians &or marriage are di&&erent &rom guardians a00ointed by t"e /ourt. T"e order o& t"e 0riority is as &ollows: i4 ii4 iii4 iv4 v4 $at"er@ Paternal +rand&at"er, "ow ever "ig"@ #rot"er or ot"er male members o& t"e &at"er7s &amily@ Mot"er@ and Maternal un/le, aunt or ot"er maternal relatives.

remoter guardian &or marriage /an not get t"e minor married o&& wit" out a/tually &ollowing t"e 0res/ribed order and su/" a marriage will be void. S'ia Law says t"at only t"e &at"er or t"e 0aternal grand)&at"er "ow ever "ig" /an be t"e guardians &or marriage. T'e C'ild Marriage Res$rain$ A($) *+,+ 0rovides t"at a /"ild marriage e?ists and will be valid but t"e guardians and ot"ers w"o /ondu/t it /an be 0unis"ed. /"ild marriage /an be 0revented by an in2un/tion. O-$i!n !" Pu#er$% ./'%ar0ul01ulug') *nder Muslim marriage, a minor on attaining t"e age o& 0uberty /an e?er/ise t"e o0tion o& 0uberty w"erein t"e minor /an a00rove or disa00rove t"e marriage /ontra/ted by t"e guardian w"o is not t"e &at"er or t"e grand &at"er. ,& "e disa00roves, t"e marriage will dissolve wit" immediate e&&e/t. ,& t"e minor says not"ing, it will be 0resumed t"at "e "as

a00roved t"e marriage. s 0er t"e 5"ia law, a minor "as to a00rove "is marriage u0on attaining t"e age o& 0uberty. ,& t"e &at"er or t"e grand&at"er "as /ontra/ted marriage &raudulently or negligently, t"e minor /an re0udiate t"e marriage on attaining t"e age o& 0uberty. wi&e /an e?er/ise t"e rig"t even i& t"e marriage was /ontra/ted by "er &at"er or "er grand&at"er. T"ere /an be no unreasonable delay in t"e e?er/ise o& t"e o0tion o& 0uberty. T"e "usband will lose "is rig"t to t"e o0tion o& 0uberty i& t"e marriage "as been /onsummated. T"e wi&e will also lose "er rig"t unless t"e /onsummation "as ta-en 0la/e w"en t"e wi&e was still a minor and against "er /onsent.

#) S!undness !" Mind Lunati/s /an get married during t"e lu/id intervals &or t"ey /an understand t"e /onse:uen/es. ,diots on t"e ot"er "and /an not do so. ,dio/y re&ers to an abnormal state o& t"e mind w"erein t"e 0erson /an not understand t"e /onse:uen/es o& t"eir a/tions. Marriage !" insane -ers!ns 0erson /an /ontra/t a law&ul marriage t"roug" a guardian. .n re/overing reason t"e said 0erson /an re0udiate t"e marriage. () Religi!n !" $'e -ar$ies T"e 0arties /an marry any Muslim irres0e/tive o& se/ts or sub se/ts.
In$er0Religi!n Marriage

*nder 5unni law, a male /an marry a Muslim girl o& any se/tD sub se/t or even a Kitabia girl. Kitabia &emale is one w"o belongs to a /ommunity t"at originated in a boorevealed by t"e "eavens. T"us, t"e =ews and t"e 6"ristians /an be wed to a 5unni male. marriage wit" a non)Muslim or non)Kitabia &emale, t"e marriage is merely irregular. *nder 5"ia law, a marriage wit" a non)Muslim or a Kitabia woman is not 0ermitted. 'owever, a Muta marriage may be /ontra/ted wit" a Kitabia or Parsi &emale.
Marriage !" a Muslim Female wi$' a n!n0Muslim male

Muslim &emale "as no rig"t to /ontra/t a marriage wit" a non)Muslim even i& "e is a Kitabia or Parsi. 5u/" a marriage will be void. T'e S-e(ial Marriage A($) *+23 allows any man or woman to get married to ea/" ot"er w"et"er a Muslim or a non)Muslim. T"e su//ession will be governed under t"e ,ndian 5u//ession /t, 1B25. II) FREE CONSENT OF T E PARTIES ,& t"e 0arties are sane and adults, t"ey /an give /onsent on t"eir own and t"e marriage will be a valid one. ,& t"e 0arties or one o& t"em is eit"er a minor or insane, t"e /onsent "as to be obtained by t"e guardian. T"e /onsent will be deemed &ree w"en it is made at will and given voluntarily and not under any /oer/ion or &raud. C!er(i!n is w"en t"e 0arty is made to /onsent under t"e t"reat o& "arm to sel& or a loved one. ll se/ts and s/"ools render a marriage under /oer/ion to be void. T"e 'ana&i 5/"ool is t"e only e?/e0tion. ,t is believed in t"e s/"ool t"at t"ree t"ings /an not be undone ever even i& /ommitted as a 2o-e. T"e t"ree t"ings are marriage, divor/e and ta-ing ba/-. Fraud re&ers to a dis"onest /on/ealment o& &a/ts or 0resentation o& &alse &a/ts or statements to obtain /onsent. T"e moment t"e 0arty w"ose /onsent was obtained by &raud /omes to -now o& su/" &raud, "e or s"e may a//e0t t"e marriage as a legal one or altoget"er re2e/t it. Mis$a4e !" Fa($ is w"en t"e 0arties agree but not on t"e same t"ing. 6onsent re&ers to t"e meeting o& t"e minds on t"e same issue. 8"ere t"e identity o& t"e bride to be, &or e?am0le, is mista-en, t"e marriage will be void. III) FORMALITIES IN T E MARRIAGE *nder Muslim law, religious /eremonies are not essential &or validating a marriage. T"e only essential &ormalities are t"at o& o&&er and a//e0tan/e.
O""er and A((e-$an(e

.&&er or ,2ab signi&ies t"e willingness o& a 0arty to /ontra/t marriage wit" anot"er. T"e o&&er /omes in &orm o& a de/laration &rom t"e boy or "is guardian. T"is o&&er "as to be a//e0ted by t"e girl or "er guardian. T"is is re&erred to as a//e0tan/e or 3ubool. T"oug" no s0e/i&i/ &orm e?ists, t"e words must s"ow t"e une:uivo/al intention o& t"e 0arties ort"e guardians to marry t"e 0arties. ,t may be !ral !r wri$$en5 8"en written down, it is re&erred to ass t"e Kabinnama".

,t is essential t"at t"e o&&er and a//e0tan/e o//ur at t"e same sitting. T"us, simultaneous a/tions must be/ome a 2oint w"ole. $or e?am0le, t"e groom to be "as to send t"e o&&er t"roug" anot"er. T"e bride must a//e0t it in 0resen/e o& ot"ers and t"en t"e marriage will be a valid one. Re(i-r!(i$% is anot"er im0ortant as0e/t. T"e a//e0tan/e "as to be &or t"e 0ro0osal word to word, as it is and wit"out any variations. C!ndi$i!nal !r C!n$ingen$ Marriage is void even i& t"e event t"at t"ey are made de0endent u0on does in &a/t o//ur. Presen(e !" 6i$nesses is not essential under t"e 5"ia law. *nder t"e 5unni law, t"e o&&er and a//e0tan/e needs to two /om0etent witnesses. Muslim male w"o is o& sound mind and "as attained t"e age o& 0uberty is a /om0etent single witness. Two sane Muslim &emales w"o "ave rea/"ed t"e age o& 0uberty /an also be treated as /om0etent witnesses. T"us, two Muslim women along wit" a /om0etent Muslim male witness will be regarded as /om0etent witnesses &or t"e marriage. $our &emales will not be regarded as /om0etent witness. T"e term 9witnesses7 does not re&er to any one s0e/i&i/ally as-ed or invited &or t"is 0ur0ose only. Regis$ra$i!n under Muslim law is not essential &or t"e validity o& t"e marriage. #ut /ertain ena/tments 0rovide &or registration in t"e matters o& marriage as well as divor/es. T"e a/ts do so be/ause t"en t"ere e?ists a 0roo& o& t"e marriage. #ut even t"en t"e registration is o0tional only and not mandatory. ,t "as also been "eld in a &ew /ases t"at i& t"e /ommunity /ustom re:uires registration, even i& it is in a di&&erent &ormat, t"e marriage "as to be registered t"en. *nder t"e ,ndian 6"ristian Marriages /t, 1AE2, t"e registration o& marriage will be essential i& t"e marriage is between a Muslim and a 6"ristian. IV) A1SENCE OF PRO I1ITION Pro"ibition re&ers to t"e im0ediments or restri/tions 0la/ed on a 0erson wit" res0e/t to anot"er 0erson or an a/tion. T"e Muslim law 0rovides t"at t"e marriage s"ould not be a marriage against ,slam or "ave any ot"er im0ediments to it. bsen/e o& 0ro"ibition re&ers to t"e &reedom to marry a 0erson &or t"ey do not stand in a 0arti/ular relations"i0 to ea/" ot"er. $or e?am0le, a &at"er /annot marry "is own daug"ter. bsolute Pro"ibitions

T"ey are mandatory and "ave to be &ollowed or else t"e marriage will be void. ,& a 0erson is wit"in t"e 0ro"ibited relations"i0 o& t"e ot"er 0arty, t"e marriage /annot ta-e 0la/e.

8"et"er a 0erson is wit"in t"e 0ro"ibited relations"i0 or not /an be de/ided on t"e &ollowing basis:

a4 C!nsanguini$% is relations"i0 by #lood. Muslim /annot marry one7s own des/endant, "owever "ig" or des/endents o& one7 &at"er or mot"er no matter "ow low. 5imilarly brot"ers and sisters o& one7s as/endants "owsoever "ig" /an not be married to. 'owever, t"ere is no 0ro"ibition in t"e marriage o& /ousin brot"ers or sisters.

#) A""ini$% re&ers to relation by marriage. Muslim /an not marry t"e as/endant or des/endant o& one7s s0ouse or t"e s0ouse o& one7s as/endant or des/endant. () F!s$erage re&ers to t"e relations"i0 o& nurture and &eeding. /"ild is breast &ed during its in&an/y. ,& t"e 0erson 0roviding t"e &eeds is someone ot"er t"an t"e biologi/al mot"er, t"e in&ant or /"ild will still stand in a 0ro"ibited relations"i0 wit" "er.
Rela$i7e Pr!'i#i$i!ns

8"ere t"e /om0lian/e is not mandatory but non)/om0lian/e will be &rowned u0on. ny marriage in violation will be only irregular and not void. s 0er 5"ia law, t"e marriage will be eit"er 0er&e/tly valid or void and not irregular.

a) Unlaw"ul C!n8un($i!ns Muslim /an not "ave two wives at t"e same time i& t"e wives are related to ea/" ot"er in a way t"at would "ave made t"eir marriage void i& t"ey "ad been o& o00osite se?. s 0er t"e 5unni law, a marriage against t"is /ondition is irregular. T"e 5"ia law will treat violation as a void marriage. T"e only e?/e0tion will be i& t"e marriage is wit" t"e wi&e7s /onsent.

#) Marriage wi$' $'e "i"$' wi"e

,& a Muslim man "as more t"an &ive wives, it is merely irregular wit" res0e/t to t"e &i&t" wi&e. ,& "e divor/es a wi&e or a wi&e dies, t"e irregularity will be removed wit" res0e/t to t"e &i&t" wi&e.

() Marriage wi$' a n!n0Muslim "as been dis/ussed early on in t"e /"a0ter. d) Marriage wi$'!u$ wi$nesses is irregular as 0er 5unni law. e) Marriage during Idda$ is irregular as 0er t"e 5unni law and void as 0er t"e 5"ia law. Idda$ re&ers to t"e 0eriod t"at a woman undergoes a&ter divor/e or t"e deat" o& "er "usband. ,t literally means /ounting. T"is 0eriod is essential to as/ertain w"et"er t"e wi&eDwidow is 0regnant or not. Furing t"is time, t"e woman leads a sim0le and /"aste li&e. T"e /ir/umstan/es w"ere s"e "as to observe ,ddat and "ow are as &ollows. *) Diss!lu$i!n !" Marriage #% di7!r(e ,& t"e marriage was a valid one and /onsummated, t"e duration o& ,ddat is t"ree mont"ly /ourses. T"e marriage /ould "ave been dissolved t"roug" Tala:, ,la, Gi"ar or under t"e Fissolution o& Muslim Marriage /t, 1BHB. ,& t"e woman is 0regnant, t"e 0eriod o& ,ddat e?tends till t"e delivery or abortion o& t"e &oetus. ,& t"e marriage "as not been /onsummated, t"e woman is not re:uired to observe ,ddat.

,) Di7!r(e !" marriage #% $'e dea$' !" $'e 'us#and ,& t"e marriage was a valid one, t"e 0eriod o& ,ddat e?tends u0 to I mont"s and 10 days irres0e/tive o& t"e &a/t w"et"er t"e marriage was /onsummated or not. ,& t"e woman was 0regnant at t"e time, t"e 0eriod o& ,ddat is on till t"e delivery or t"e abortion or t"e earlier s0e/i&ied 0eriod, w"i/" ever is longer.

9) Dea$' i" 'us#and during di7!r(e Idda$ ,& t"e "usband dies during t"e divor/e ,ddat, t"e wi&e "as to start a &res" ,ddat o& I mont"s and 10 days &rom t"e date o& deat" o& t"e "usband.

3) C!mmen(emen$ !" Idda$

T"e 0eriod o& ,ddat starts &rom t"e date o& divor/e or deat" and not &rom t"e date o& t"e wi&e re/eiving a noti/e o& t"e same. T"us, i& t"e wi&e gets t"e noti/e o& su/" an even a&ter t"e s0e/i&ied 0eriod o& ,ddat "as e?0ired, s"e does not "ave to observe ,ddat.

*nder 5"ia law, ,ddat need not be observed i& t"e wi&e is 0ast t"e /"ildbearing age or i& s"e "as not even attained 0uberty.

Valid Re$iremen$ re&ers to w"en a /ou0le s0ends time toget"er in 0rivate and t"ere is no moral, so/ial or legal restri/tion in t"eir inter/ourse. s 0er 5unni law, a valid retirement raises t"e 0resum0tion o& /onsummation o& t"e marriage. T"us, ,ddat will "ave to be observed even i& t"ere was no a/tual /onsummation but a valid retirement "as been 0roved. 5"ia law does not re/ognise t"e /on/e0t o& valid retirement. us#and is -r!'i#i$ed "r!m remarr%ing during idda$ i& and only i& "e already "as &our wives. T"us, "e /an not marry anot"er woman till t"e iddat 0eriod is over. ,n /ase, su/" a marriage does ta-e 0la/e, it will be merely irregular and not void.

Mis(ellane!us Pr!'i#i$i!ns
a) Marriage during -ilgrimage is void as 0er 5"ia law only. #) Rule !" E:uali$% re&ers to t"e so/iety7s 0ro"ibition on marriage w"erein t"e "usband and wi&e must be o& t"e same standing and e:ual t"ere&ore. T"e marriage in violation o& t"is rule /an be invalidated by t"e 3a>i. T"e 5"ia law does not re/ognise t"is rule. /4 Re0marriage #e$ween $'e di7!r(ed (!u-le is allowed 0rovided a 0ro/edure i& &ollowed. T"e divor/ed wi&e "as to marry anot"er man &ul&illing all t"e re:uisites o& a valid marriage. T"e marriage "as to be /onsummated. T"en t"e 0resent "usband "as to divor/e "er voluntarily and t"e wi&e "as to observe ,ddat. T"en s"e may marry "er &irst or &ormer "usband. ,& t"e 0ro/edure is not &ollowed, t"e marriage will be merely irregular.

d) P!l%andr% is not 0ermitted and t"e se/ond marriage will be void under 5"ia and 5unni law.

/INDS OF MARRIAGE

Valid Marriage !r $'e Sa'i' Marriage

*nder all s/"ools o& Muslim law, t"e basi/ re:uirements "ave to be &ul&illed, i.e. t"e 0arties are /om0etent, t"e /onsent o& t"e 0arties is &ree /onsent and t"e o&&er and a//e0tan/e "as been duly made.

Legal E""e($ !" a Valid Marriage

i4

T"e /o "abitation o& t"e 0arties be/omes law&ul and not immoral@

ii4 T"e /"ildren born to a law&ully wedded /ou0le are legitimate and /an in"erit a//ordingly@

iii4

$or t"e /ou0le itsel&, mutual rig"ts o& in"eritan/e arise@

iv4 T"e wi&e /an /laim dower and "as a rig"t to maintenan/e and simultaneously t"e obligation to observe ,ddat is bestowed u0on "er@ v4 Pro"ibited relations are /reated due to t"e marriage@

vi4 T"e legal identity or status o& a Muslim woman does not blend in wit" "er "usband7s identity a&ter marriage@ and vii4 T"e 0arties "ave rig"ts to regulate t"e movements o& ea/" ot"er but t"ey /an not re&rain ea/" ot"er &rom maintaining a relations"i0 wit" t"eir res0e/tive &amilies or visits to t"en. V!id Marriage !r $'e 1a$il Marriage

,t is an illegal union t"at e?ists not in law. T"us, a marriage in violation o& absolute 0ro"ibitions or 0olyandry is a void marriage. 5"ia law 0rovides a &ew additional grounds li-e marriage during a 0ilgrimage or marriage wit" a non)Muslim or a woman observing ,ddat.

Legal E""e($s !" a V!id Marriage

No mutual rig"ts or obligations are /reated &or t"e 0arties in t"is union. T"e /"ildren born to su/" a /ou0le are deemed illegitimate and t"e wi&e "as no rig"ts to dower or maintenan/e. T"e 0arties /an a/tually marry any one t"ey wis" &or t"is marriage does not e?ist in law or in &a/t.

Irregular Marriage !r Fasid Marriage

n in/om0lete marriage w"ere t"e deviation &rom 0ro/edure or a &law /an be removed, it is /alled an irregular marriage. $or e?am0le, t"e marriage wit" t"e &i&t" wi&e or wit" a woman observing ,ddat will be treated as an irregular marriage.

Legal E""e($s !" an irregular Marriage

T"e /o"abitation is law&ul and t"e /"ildren are legitimate and /an in"erit t"e 0ro0erties o& t"eir 0arents. Mutual rig"ts o& in"eritan/e do not arise. &ter /onsummation only, /an t"e wi&e /laim dower. T"e wi&e does not "ave to observe ,ddat i& t"e marriage is not /onsummated.

Tem-!rar% marriage !r Mu$a Marriage

,t is a uni:ue &orm o& marriage re/ognised only under t"e ,t"na s"aria 5/"ool. ,t is a union &or a 0arti/ular time only wit" /onsideration as a 0re)re:uisite. T"e roots /an be

tra/ed ba/- to t"e early rabia, w"ere men "ad to travel long and &ar. To /on&er legitima/y on t"e o&&s0ring 0rodu/ed during t"e travels, t"e Pro0"et allowed t"is Muta or en2oyment marriage &or some time. Later, "e 0ro"ibited it absolutely.

,t is essential t"at t"e 0arties must be /om0etent to /ontra/t marriage be/ause t"e guardians /annot /ontra/t &or a Muta marriage. T"e Muslim male /an /ontra/t Muta marriage wit" a Muslim, Kitabia or Parsi woman but t"e Muslim woman /an /ontra/t t"e same only wit" Muslim men. ny number o& Muta wives /an be /ontra/ted wit".

T"e &ormalities o& &ree /onsent, o&&er and a//e0tan/e as well as absen/e o& 0ro"ibition "ave to be &ollowed. T"e dower must be s0e/i&ied at t"e time o& marriage ot"erwise t"e marriage will be deemed void. T"e duration o& t"e Muta marriage must be s0e/i&ied or else it will be deemed as a 0ermanent marriage. Legal E""e($s !" Tem-!rar% Marriage T"e /o"abitation between 0arties be/omes law&ul and /onse:uently even t"e /"ildren are legitimate /"ildren. T"ere will be no mutual rig"ts o& in"eritan/e between t"e "usband and wi&e. T"e "usband "as to 0ay t"e w"ole dower amount i& "e leaves wit"out &inis"ing t"e duration o& t"e marriage. ,& t"e wi&e were to leave be&ore t"e e?0iry o& t"e s0e/i&ied time, t"e "usband /an dedu/t a 0ro0ortionate amount &rom "er dower.

Maintenan/e is not available to t"e wi&e as a rig"t. T"ere is no divor/e in Muta marriages. ,t ends on t"e 0res/ribed time or de0arture o& one o& t"e 0arties. ,ddat "as to be observed &or two mont"s i& t"e marriage "as been /onsummated, else it is not needed. ,& t"e marriage dissolved due to deat", I mont"s and 10 days is t"e iddat 0eriod.

Marriage Agreemen$s are allowed under Muslim law. %ven subse:uent to t"e marriage, a /ou0le /an enter into an agreement &or regulation o& t"eir relations"i0. ,& t"e guardians "ave made su/" agreements w"en t"e 0arties are not /om0etent to do so, t"e agreement will be binding on t"em. ny agreement wor-ing against ,slam is void. $or e?am0le a marriage agreement w"erein t"e wi&e is not allowed to /laim "er dower or t"e /ou0le /an stay se0arately wit"out any reasonable /ause would be illegal.

Marriage agreements are binding on t"e 0arties as long as t"ey are legal. $or e?am0le an agreement w"erein t"e "usband /an not /ontra/t anot"er marriage during t"e subsisten/e o& t"e &irst is a valid agreement. 5imilarly, an agreement stating t"at t"e "usband s"all not sto0 t"e wi&e &rom re/eiving "er relatives at "is "ouse at any time is also valid.

1rea(' !" a Marriage Agreemen$ i& t"e agreement was a valid one gives rise to rig"ts o& re&usal &or restitution, dower related rig"ts and in e?treme s/enarios, dissolution o& t"e marriage.

RESTITUTION OF CON;UGAL RIG TS

!estitution o& /on2ugal rig"ts re&ers to giving ba/- t"e rig"t to one 0arty to stay wit" t"e s0ouse. s a /ou0le is entitled to stay toget"er and en2oy ea/" ot"er7s /om0any, i& one s0ouse stays away wit"out reason, t"e ot"er /an &ile a suit to move ba/- wit" t"e aggrieved 0arty. T"e /ourts "ave to loo- into t"e /ir/umstan/es o& ea/" /ase and t"en de/ide. wi&e /an /laim de&en/es against "er "usband7s /laim as given below: a4 b4 /4 d4 'e &alsely a//used "er o& adultery@ 'er 0rom0t dower was not 0aid on demand@ T"e "usband "as been e?0elled &rom t"e /aste@ 6ruelty, 0"ysi/al or emotional, by t"e "usband@ and

e4 'usband /onverted &rom ,slam to anot"er religion or used ob2e/tionable words against t"e Pro0"et, et/.

T"e Fissolution o& Muslim Marriages /t, 1BHB "as widened t"e de&en/es even more.