Can a woman sign her marriage certificate?
Question
Assalamu'alaikum,
In Pakistan and South asian countries it is considered shamelessness for a woman to sign her wedding contract or even read her weidding contract. Why is it so? And is it cultural or has any islamic reasons for that. Can a woman sign her own marriage contract and can she read it according to islam?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Shari’ah has granted women honour and respect.
There is no restriction from Shari’ah for a woman to read and sign her marriage certificate. The marriage certificate is not a pre-requisite for the validity of the Nikaah. It only serves as a legal document and a proof of marriage.
A woman may read and sign her marriage certificate.
[1]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Muhammad I.V Patel
Assistant Mufti,
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
References (Arabic / Urdu sources)
[1]
البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق (8/ 2)
( قَوْلُهُ : وَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ النِّكَاحُ كَالْعِتْقِ ) قَالَ الرَّمْلِيُّ : أَيْ فَيُسْتَحَبُّ أَنْ يَكْتُبَ لَهُ كِتَابًا وَيُشْهِدَ عَلَيْهِ شُهُودًا صِيَانَةً عَنْ التَّجَاحُدِ
- Answered by
- Muhammad I.V Patel
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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