What is the ruling on marriage if a young man cannot find two witnesses who possess the characteristic of justice mentioned in the Islamic legal conditions, which includes avoiding major sins and not being lenient with minor sins, especially given the prevalence of certain actions that may be considered minor sins among acquaintances, such as backbiting, shaving the beard, letting the garment hang below the ankles, or listening to music?

The matter is easier than the questioner imagines, for he will not fail to find two upright witnesses. It is not a condition for the witnesses to be relatives or friends; apparent uprightness suffices. And even if immorality is widespread in society, the door to witnessing is not closed. Rather, what is more optimal is considered, as Ibn al-Qayyim stated.

The condition of uprightness for marriage witnesses is a point of disagreement among scholars. Ibn Taymiyyah said: "And if the two witnesses were not considered upright by the judge, being merely outwardly respectable, the marriage is valid if they announce it and do not conceal it, according to the apparent madhhab of the four imams. Even if it was in the presence of two immoral persons, the marriage is also valid according to Abu Hanifa, and Ahmad in one narration. And if it was not in the presence of witnesses, but her guardian married her off, and this became widely known among the people, the marriage is valid according to the madhhab of Malik, and Ahmad ibn Hanbal in one narration from him. This is the more apparent of the two sayings of the scholars, for Muslims have always married women during the time of the Prophet, peace be upon him, and the Prophet, peace be upon him, did not order them to have witnesses. There is no authentic hadith stipulating witnesses for marriage, neither in the Sahih collections, nor in the Sunan, nor in the Musnad collections."