What are the conditions for a marriage contract? Is it permissible for the contract to be verbal? What are the conditions for the person writing the contract? Is public declaration of marriage obligatory? Is it permissible for a Muslim man in America to marry a Christian woman based on a verbal agreement and in the presence of witnesses?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The marriage contract requires offer and acceptance verbally, and its writing is only for documentation. Nothing is required of the person writing the contract, and publicizing the marriage is recommended, not a condition. The marriage to a woman of the People of the Book requires the same conditions as marriage to a Muslim woman, the most important of which are the guardian's consent and the presence of witnesses.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/88889
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 88889
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy