The Condition of the Woman’s Guardian and Two `Adl Witnesses being Present for the Nikaah to be Valid:
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said:
“There is no Nikaah without the (woman’s) guardian.”
Authenticated by Ahmad (C.f. Sunan-ul-Baihaqee, 4/267; Al-Kaamil, 6/165), Ibn-ul-Madeenee (C.f. Al-Mustadrak, 2/169-170; As-Sunan-us-Sagheer, 3/17; Al-Kubraa, 7/108), Adh-Dhuhalee (Ibid), Al-Bukhaaree (C.f. Sunan-ul-Baihaqee, 7/107-108), , Al-Bazzaar (8/115), Ibn Hibbaan (4075, 4083), Al-Haakim (2/169-170), and Adh-Dhahabee agreed, ِِAl-Baihaqee (Al-Kubraa, 7/107; As-Sughraa, ), Ibn `Abdil-Barr (At-Tamheed, 14/48-54), Al-Baghawee (Sharh-us-Sunnah, 2261), Ibn-ul-Qayyim (Tahdheeb-us-Sunan, 3/30-31; I`laam-ul-Muwaqqi`een, 4/130), Aboo Muhammad Al-Maqdisee (C.f. Al-Badr, 7/551), Ibn-ul-Mulaqqin (Ibid, 7/543; Al-I`laam, 8/227), Ibn Hajar (5/51), As-Suyootee (Al-Azhaar-ul-Mutanaathirah, ), Al-Kattaanee (Nazm-ul-Mutanaathir, ), Ahmad Shaakir (Musnad Ahmad, 1/250-251; `Umdat-ut-Tafseer, 1/286), Al-Albaanee (Al-Irwaa’, 1839; Saheeh Abee Daawood, 6/321-322; Hidaayat-ur-Ruwaah, 3066; Saheeh-ul-Jaami`, 7555, 7556), Al-Waadi`ee (As-Saheeh-ul-Musnad, 815), `Abdul-Qaadir Al-Arnaa’oot (Zaad-ul-Ma`aad, 5/101), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Ibid; Sharh-us-Sunnah, 2261; Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan, 4075-4078, 4083, 4090; Musnad Ahmad, 2260, 19518, 19710, 19746; Sunan-ud-Daaraqutnee, 3514), Husayn Asad (Musnad Abee Ya`laa, 7228; Al-Mawaarid, 1243-1245; Musnad-ud-Daarimee, 2228), Az-Zuhairee (Buloogh-ul-Maraam, 989; Al-`Umdat-ul-Kubraa, 632), Al-Huwainee (Ghawth-ul-Makdood, 701-704; Fasl-ul-Khitaab, p.116-117), Al-Hilaalee (Takhreej-ul-Muharrar, 1008; Mawsoo`at-ul-Manaahee, 3/7-8), Anees Taahir (Mukhtasar-ul-Ahkaam, 5/200), `Abdullaah Al-Luhaidaan, (Mukhtasar Istidraak-idh-Dhahabee, 236), Ahmad Al-Baloshee (Mu`ajam Ibn-il-A`raabee, 295), `Awd Al-`Awfee (Al-Wilaayah fin-Nikaah, 1/96-105) and Muflih Ar-Rushaydee (At-Tahqeeq-ul-Jalee li-Hadeeth Laa Nikaaha illaa bi-Walee, Mu’assasah Qurtubah, Misr).
At-Tirmidhee (1101, 1102) and Ad-Daaraqutnee (Su’aalaat-ul-Barqaanee, 37) indicated its authenticity.
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said:
“Any woman who is not married by her guardian (but by someone else or marries by herself), her Nikaah is invalid, her Nikaah is invalid, her Nikaah is invalid! And if he (the man she married) has intercourse with her then she deserves the Mahr (dowry) because of that. And if they argue then the Sultaan (Muslim ruler) is the guardian of whoever does not have a guardian.”
Authenticated by At-Tirmidhee (1102), Ibn Ma`een (Taareekh Ibn Ma`een bi-Riwaayat-id-Dooree, 3/232), Ibn Hibbaan (C.f. Buloogh-ul-Maraam, 291, D. Faihaa’ ed), Al-Haakim (2/168), Al-Baihaqee (7/105), Ibn-ul-`Arabee (Al-Qabas, 14/18), Ibn Hazm (Al-Muhallaa, 9/465), Ibn-ul-Jawzee (At-Tahqeeq, 3/71), Al-Maqdisee (Al-`Umdat-ul-Kubraa, 632 ff.), Adh-Dhahabee (At-Tanqeeh, 2/168, D. Watan ed; As-Siyar, 5/436), Ibn-ul-Mulaqqin (Al-Badr, 7/553; Al-I`laam, 8/227; Tuhfat-ul-Muhtaaj, 2/364), Ibn Hajar (5/52-53), Al-Albaanee (Al-Irwaa’, 1840; Saheeh Abee Daawood, 6/320-321; Hidaayat-ur-Ruwaah, 3067; Saheeh-ul-Jaami`, 2709), Al-Waadi`ee (As-Saheeh-ul-Musnad, 1606), `Abdul-Qaadir Al-Arnaa’oot (Zaad-ul-Ma`aad, 5/101), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Ibid; Sharh-us-Sunnah, 2262; Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan, 4074; Musnad Ahmad, 24205, 24372, 24326; Sunan-ud-Daaraqutnee, 3520), Husayn Asad (Musnad-ud-Daarimee, 2230), Az-Zuhairee (Buloogh-ul-Maraam, 990; Al-`Umdat-ul-Kubrah, 633), Al-Huwainee (Ghawth-ul-Makdood, 700; Fasl-ul-Khitaab, p.112-115), Al-Hilaalee (Mawsoo`at-ul-Manaahee, 3/7), Mashhoor Salmaan (Taqreer-ul-Qawaa`id, 1/342-344), `Amr Saleem (I`laa’-us-Sunan, 76), Ad-Diyaa’ Al-A`zamee (Al-Minnat-ul-Kubraa, 2353), Anees Taahir (Mukhtasar-ul-Ahkaam, 5/201), Ahmad Al-Baloshee (Mu`jam Ibn-il-A`raabee, 664), `Awd Al-`Awfee (Al-Wilaayah fin-Nikaah, 1/113-123) and `Abdullaah Damfoo (Marwiyyaat-uz-Zuhree-il-Mu`allah, 140).
Aboo Hurairah (radiyallaahu `anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said:
“A woman cannot give away another woman in marriage and a woman cannot marry by herself (without a guardian).” Then Aboo Hurairah said:
“We used to consider the woman who marries by herself a fornicatress (zaaniyah).”
Authenticated by Ad-Daaraqutnee (C.f. Al-Ahkaam-ul-Wustaa, 3/141), Ibn-ul-Mulaqqin (Al-Badr, 7/563; Khulaasat-ul-Badr, 1938), Ahmad Shaakir (`Umdat-ut-Tafseer, 1/285), Al-Albaanee (Al-Irwaa’, 1841; Hidaayat-ur-Ruwaah, 3072), `Abdul-Qaadir Al-Arnaa’oot (Zaad-ul-Ma`aad, 5/102), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Ibid), Az-Zuhairee (Buloogh-ul-Maraam, 993; Al-`Umdat-ul-Kubraa, 634), Al-Hilaalee (Mawsoo`at-ul-Manaahee, 3/11), Anees Taahir (Mukhtasar-ul-Ahkaam, 5/205) and `Awd Al-`Awfee (Al-Wilaayah fin-Nikaah, 1/132-138, 147).
Ibn Hajar said: “Its narrators are reliable.” (Buloogh-ul-Maraam, 993).
The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said:
“There is no Nikaah without the (woman’s) guardian and two upright and honest witnesses. Any Nikaah not conducted accordingly is invalid. And if they argue then the Sultaan is the guardian of whoever does not have one.”
Authenticated by Ibn Hibbaan (4075), Ibn-ul-`Arabee (Al-`Aaridah, 3/40), Ibn Hazm (9/465), Ibn-ul-Mulaqqin (Tuhfat-ul-Muhtaaj, 2/364), Al-Albaanee (Al-Irwaa’, 1858, 1860; Saheeh-ul-Mawaarid, 1044; Saheeh-ul-Jaami`, 7557, 7558), Shu`aib Al-Arna’oot (Sharh-us-Sunnah, 2264; Saheeh Ibn Hibbaan, 4075), Husayn Asad (Al-Mawaarid, 1247) and Al-Hilaalee (Mawsoo`at-ul-Manaahee, 3/7).
Ibn `Abbaas (radiyallaahu `anhumaa) said: “There is no Nikaah without the (woman’s) guardian and two `adl (upright and honest Muslim) witnesses.”
Authenticated by Ash-Shaafi`ee (Al-Umm, 6/57), Al-Baihaqee (Al-Kubraa, 7/124; C.f. Mawsoo`at-ul-Haafiz, 5/68; As-Sagheer, 3/19), Ibn Hajar (Ibid, 5/70), Al-Albaanee (Al-Irwaa’, 1844, 6/239-240, 243, 251),`Amr Saleem (Fath-ul-`Azeez, p.118), Zakariyyaa Al-Baakistaanee (Aathaar-us-Sahaabah, 3/994), Ad-Diyaa’ Al-A`zamee (Al-Minnat-ul-Kubraa, 2365) and `Awd Al-`Awfee (Al-Wilaayah fin-Nikaah, 1/146, 2/46).
`Umar (radiyallaahu `anhu) said: “There is no Nikaah without the (woman’s) guardian and two `adl witnesses.”
Authenticated by Al-Baihaqee (Al-Kubraa, 7/126; As-Sughraa, 23723- 2374) Al-Hilaalee (Al-Muwatta’, 1203), Zakariyyaa Al-Baakistaanee (Aathaar-us-Sahaabah, 3/992) and `Awd Al-`Awfee (Al-Wilaayah fin-Nikaah, 1/ ).
Al-Albaanee said: “Its narrators are reliable…” (Al-Irwaa’, 6/250).
`Alee (radiyallaahu `anhu) said: “There is no Nikaah without the consent of the (woman’s) guardian.”
Authenticated by Al-Baihaqee (7/111) and Zakariyyaa Al-Baakistaanee (Aathaar-us-Sahaabah, 3/993).
