Is it lawful to get married without...

Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta

Is it lawful to get married without making it official through registering it in government office?

Question

I am a 27 year old man. I have been living in Italy for a few years. Five years ago I met an Italian Muslim girl and I want to marry her, but she and I do not work and we do not have the economic conditions to be able to get married. Someone told me that I can marry my girl according to Islamic tradition without a marriage contract. We will do the official contract when we work inshAllah. Is it lawful according to the sunna?

Answer

In Islamic law, marriage is considered valid if it meets the following legal integrals:

- The consent of the girl's guardian [wali].

- The verbal form of offer and acceptance.

- Presence of two male Muslim witnesses.

- Agreement on the dowry [mahr].

As for conducting a contract, it is meant to keep spouses' rights from denial.

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