What did Abu Hanifa mean by permitting a woman to marry without a guardian (wali), provided there are witnesses or public declaration: Did he mean without the guardian's knowledge, or with his knowledge, but the woman herself handles the marriage contract?
The Hanafi school of thought holds that it is valid for a mature and sane woman to marry herself off, even without the permission or knowledge of her guardian. The majority of scholars, however, maintain that a woman's marriage without a guardian is invalid.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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