Marriage (Nikah) — Essentials and Classification — KSLU Family Law 2 Notes

Marriage (Nikah) — Essentials and Classification

flowchart TD
    ROOT["Muslim Marriage (Nikah)"]:::root
    ROOT --> ESS["Essentials"]:::branch
    ROOT --> CLASS["Classification"]:::branch
    ESS --> E1["Proposal & Acceptance<br/>(Ijab & Qubul)<br/>in the same sitting"]:::leaf
    ESS --> E2["Competent Parties<br/>(sane + age of puberty)"]:::leaf
    ESS --> E3["Witnesses<br/>(Sunni: 2 males)"]:::leaf
    ESS --> E4["Dower (Meher)<br/>(wife's right)"]:::leaf
    ESS --> E5["No Legal Impediment<br/>(no prohibited degree)"]:::leaf
    CLASS --> V["Valid (Sahih)<br/>All essentials met<br/>Full legal effects"]:::valid
    CLASS --> I["Irregular (Fasid)<br/>Removable defect<br/>Children legitimate"]:::irregular
    CLASS --> VD["Void (Batil)<br/>Absolute prohibition<br/>No legal effect"]:::void

    classDef root fill:#FFF8DC,stroke:#000,stroke-width:2px,color:#000;
    classDef branch fill:#E6F3FF,stroke:#1E3A8A,color:#000;
    classDef leaf fill:#E6F3FF,stroke:#1E3A8A,color:#000;
    classDef valid fill:#D4EDDA,stroke:#155724,color:#000;
    classDef irregular fill:#FFF3CD,stroke:#856404,color:#000;
    classDef void fill:#F8D7DA,stroke:#721C24,color:#000;
    linkStyle default stroke:#888,stroke-width:1px;

Muslim marriage (Nikah) is a civil contract for the legalisation of children — offer (ijab) and acceptance (qubul) in one sitting, between competent parties, with dower as the wife’s consideration. Its validity is graded into three:

The vital exam distinction: a void marriage produces no legal effect and the children are illegitimate; an irregular marriage has a removable defect — its children are legitimate and proper dower is payable after consummation, though either party may dissolve it at any time. Muta (temporary) marriage is recognised only under Shia law: fixed duration + fixed dower, no maintenance, no mutual inheritance, but the children are legitimate.