What is the ruling on a "misyar" marriage or an "urfi" marriage to a divorced Christian woman whose official marriage is impossible, and what are its conditions if it is permissible, and is a guardian required for her, and is a written contract a prerequisite?
Familiarity between young men and women and romantic relationships between them are a door to evil and corruption. For marriage to a woman of the People of the Book, it is stipulated that she be chaste and that she have a guardian and witnesses. An 'urfi (customary) or misyar marriage is valid if it fulfills all conditions and pillars. However, if it is intended as a marriage without a guardian, it is invalid. If a woman of the People of the Book has no guardian, then the Muslim judge or the emir of the Islamic center in her area is the one who marries her. Documenting the marriage contract is not a condition for the validity of the marriage according to Sharia, but it is necessary for preserving rights. Marrying a woman before she obtains her divorce papers from her first husband exposes both spouses to harm and entails corruptions. It is better for a Muslim not to marry a non-Muslim woman, especially in these times, and one must avoid private seclusion and mixing with her, and invite her to Islam.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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