Was a Marriage at Age 13 Under Pressure from Friends Valid Under Sharia?

Mahfuza Akter
Via email

Question: When I went to sit for my Class Eight examination, some of my female classmates suggested that I secretly marry a boy from our class. When I refused, they kept pressuring me and said that if my parents did not agree after learning about the marriage, the boy would end the matter.

I was 13 years old at the time. Without thinking carefully, I agreed to the marriage to please my friends. I now realise how serious a mistake I made. Neither I nor anyone in my family is willing to accept this marriage. At the time, I knew very little about the boy and his family. Neither my guardian nor the boy’s guardian was present at the marriage.

My question is: Was this marriage valid? If it was, how can the matter be resolved in accordance with Sharia? I do not want to maintain any relationship with this boy. However, he is refusing to settle the matter and is putting pressure on my family. What should I do?

Answer: For a marriage to be valid, the consent of both parties, an offer and acceptance, a dower (mahr), and witnesses are required. The presence of guardians is essential in the case of minors. Your question does not clearly establish whether these conditions were fulfilled.

Under Bangladeshi law, such a marriage is not recognised. Under Sharia, however, a marriage between a physically mature boy and girl may be valid even before they reach the minimum age set by the government, provided that all the conditions mentioned above are properly fulfilled.

Answered by: Allama Mufti Ubaidur Rahman Khan Nadvi
Source: Jameul Fatawa, Encyclopaedia of Islamic Jurisprudence and Fatwas.

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