File Copyright Online - File mutual Divorce in Delhi - Online Legal Advice - Lawyers in India

Nature of Muslim Marriage Sacrament or Civil Contract

Muslim Marriage As A Civil Contract:

  • Nikah is an Arabic word or term used for marriage which means union of the series and carries a civil contract for the purpose of legalizing sexual intercourse and legitimate procreation of children.
  • The Quran specifically refers to marriage as Mithaqun Ghalithun which means A Strong Agreement.

Views:
Ameer Ali: Marriage is an organization for the protection of the society. This is to protect the society from foulness and unchastity.

Wilson: He defines Muslim Marriage as a contract for the purpose of legalizing sexual intercourse and procreation of children.

Justice Mahmood: In The case Abdul Rahim Vs Salima ( ILR 1886 8 ALL 149)

Justice Mahmood commented on the nature of Muslim marriage that Muslim Marriage is a civil contract and not a sacrament.

Why Muslim Marriage is a Civil Contract:

The essentials of a civil contract are:

  • Proposal
  • Acceptance
  • Consideration
  • Free Consent
  • Lawful Object
  • Competency of The Parties

Similarly, essentials of Muslim marriage are:

  • Ijab ( Proposal)
  • Qubool (Acceptance)
  • Dower ( Consideration)
  • Free Consent
  • Competency Of The Parties

Comparing both it seems the same conditions for both, thus we can say that marriage under Muslim is a civil contract.

The object of civil contract:

  1. Legalizing the sexual intercourse
  2. Procreation of children

Muslim marriage as Sacrament view

Prophet’s Saying:
  • When a man marries he has fulfilled half of the religion, so let him fear Allah regarding the remaining half.
  • When a husband and wife look at each other with love, Allah look at them with mercy.”- Sahi Bukhari 6:19 Tirmidhi
  • The most perfect believer in faith is the one whose character is finest and who is kindest to his wife”. -  Ahmad 5/282 Tirmidhi

Definitions:
Abdur Rahim: The Mohammadan priests regard the institution of marriage as per taking both the nature of Ibadat ( or devotional arts) and Muamlat ( or dealing among person).

Justice Suleman: in a case: Anis Begum vs Mohammad Istafa Wali Khan (air 1933 all 634)

In the above case, he has said that in Islam, marriage is not only a civil contract but also a sacrament.

Muslim marriage can also be differentiated from a civil contract on the basis of following points:

  • It cannot be done on the basis of future happening unlike the contingent contract.
  • Unlike the civil contract it cannot be done for a fixed period of time. ( Muta marriage being an exception)

Conclusion:
It is a matter of query still existing whether Muslim Marriage is only a civil contract or an Ibadat and Muamlat. While unleashing the various definitions it is quite a big problem to say which one is the most appropriate.

In my opinion although the essentials of a contract is fulfilled yet marriage can never be said to be a contract because marriage can never be bondage between the emotions and thinking of two persons.

Written By: Er Khaliqul Azam (DME, BE, MA, Pursuing LLB) - Ms Law College, Motihari 

Law Article in India

Ask A Lawyers

You May Like

Legal Question & Answers



Lawyers in India - Search By City

Copyright Filing
Online Copyright Registration


LawArticles

How To File For Mutual Divorce In Delhi

Titile

How To File For Mutual Divorce In Delhi Mutual Consent Divorce is the Simplest Way to Obtain a D...

Increased Age For Girls Marriage

Titile

It is hoped that the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which intends to inc...

Facade of Social Media

Titile

One may very easily get absorbed in the lives of others as one scrolls through a Facebook news ...

Section 482 CrPc - Quashing Of FIR: Guid...

Titile

The Inherent power under Section 482 in The Code Of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (37th Chapter of t...

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in India: A...

Titile

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) is a concept that proposes the unification of personal laws across...

Role Of Artificial Intelligence In Legal...

Titile

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing various sectors of the economy, and the legal i...

Lawyers Registration
Lawyers Membership - Get Clients Online


File caveat In Supreme Court Instantly