The marriage contract and the mahr
The pillars of the contract, the guardian, the witnesses, and the dower.
10 answers · About 8 min (estimate)
SeasonMarriage season
Before a wedding there is a contract, and the contract has parts people ask about one by one. The guardian, the witnesses, the wording, and the mahr. This set gathers those answers.
Each entry is a short summary of a full answer on Ftawy, with the link to that answer at the bottom. The set routes you to them; it does not rule on anything itself.
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What are the pillars of the marriage contract? And what are its conditions?
Marriage has pillars and conditions. Its pillars are: the presence of both spouses free from impediments, the pronouncement of offer (ijab) by the guardian,…
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Can a marriage contract be concluded orally, or must it be in writing?
The writing of contracts and transactions is a means of documentation, not a condition for validity. A marriage contract is concluded by verbal offer and…
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Is it permissible for a virgin girl to stipulate that she be divorced if her husband marries another woman? And does the marriage contract become void if the husband does not adhere to the condition? And is this condition binding for the validity of the contract and obligatory for the husband? And is this condition an injustice to the husband? And what is the ruling on the contract if the wife retracts the condition?
It is permissible for a woman to stipulate to her husband that he not marry another woman. This condition is valid and binding. Its binding nature does not…
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Is it permissible to personally renew the marriage contract a few months after its completion online?
Marriage via the Internet is valid if its pillars are met: a guardian, two witnesses, offer, and acceptance. It is valid, all the more so, given that what is…
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What are the conditions for the guardian (wali) in a marriage contract, with mention of the applicable laws in Syria, Egypt, and Jordan?
Scholars stipulate six conditions for the guardian (wali): sanity, puberty, freedom, masculinity, unity of religion, and رشْد (sound judgment - the ability to…
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What is the evidence for Imam Malik's not stipulating witnesses, and Imam Abu Hanifa's not stipulating a guardian (wali) in marriage, despite the existence of the hadith "There is no marriage except with a guardian and two just witnesses" and other hadiths that mandate a guardian and a witness? And is it permissible to adopt their view when marrying, such that the marriage is concluded without a guardian or witnesses?
A Muslim is not permitted to abandon work based on mere sayings for which there is no known proof, especially when he possesses knowledge. The fundamental…
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Who is my guardian in marriage under the aforementioned circumstances? Is it permissible for the ruler or the judge to be my guardian, or my female cousin’s son? What is meant by "al-ʿaṣabah" (agnatic relatives) and what is its evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah?
The grandfather, who is the father of the father, is the guardian (wali) in marriage; otherwise, it is the paternal uncle. It is a condition that the guardian…
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Is it permissible for the maternal uncle to be an agent in the marriage contract, and what is the order of the guardians of the matter in marriage? Is it valid for a father to authorize one of his sons to conduct the marriage contract while he is present, and if not, what is the ruling on marriages based on this premise? What is the ruling on a previously married woman marrying herself, given the Egyptian law that permits this after reaching legal age?
It is permissible for the woman's guardian (wali) to delegate another person, such as her maternal uncle or one of his sons, to conduct the marriage contract.…
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Does the husband deserve the full mahr if he wishes to divorce his wife after consummating the marriage but before the wedding, especially if she cheated on him through phone calls?
A man owns his wife as soon as the marriage contract is concluded, and everything permissible for a husband with his wife becomes permissible for him. However,…
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Is it permissible for an engaged couple to agree that the مقدم Mahr (dowry) will be eight million, of which only six million will be paid, and then inform the bride's family that the full amount has been paid? And what is the manner of repentance if that is not permissible?
The marriage is valid even if the Mahr (dowry) is not mentioned in it, for the Mahr is an exclusive right of the mature wife, and she has the right to accept…
Updated Sep 5, 2026