Is it permissible for an adult Muslim man to contract an urfi marriage with a 14-year-old Christian girl, in the presence of two adult witnesses, given that the girl has not reached puberty and is unable to contract her own marriage, according to the Hanafi school of thought?

Know that a specific age is not a condition for a girl's puberty; rather, it is attained by the appearance of one of the signs of puberty. If a girl has reached puberty, she is permitted to marry herself without a guardian (wali) according to the Hanafi school of thought. However, if she is young, she is not permitted to marry except with a guardian, and the guardian must be from her own religion. Marriage to a woman of the People of the Book is permissible, but it is not without risks.

In summary, if the girl has reached puberty and is of sound mind, and the contract was concluded in the presence of witnesses, then the contract is valid. However, we do not advise it if there are laws that prohibit it, and we emphasize that it is better for a Muslim to marry a righteous Muslim woman.