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What is the ruling on the marriage of an orphaned girl who has no guardian except her maternal aunt, who raised her from childhood, and is it permissible for this aunt to be her guardian in marriage?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The one responsible for the marriage of this girl is her asabah (her paternal relatives), according to the jurisprudential order of those who are entitled to guardianship. And the ruler is the guardian of those who have no guardian. If none of her guardians are known, then she should refer the matter to the Sharia court, or what takes its place, such as Islamic centers.

It is advisable to ascertain the girl's religious commitment and character by asking trustworthy individuals, as married life requires religious devotion and good character to overcome obstacles. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "So win the one who is religious, your hands will be soiled [with dust]."

If she is praised, then seek guidance from Allah the Almighty, then proceed with the matter. If it contains good, Allah will facilitate it, and if it contains evil, He will avert it from you.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

Read the full answer on Ftawy