Jurisprudential - legal studies of woman and family

Jurisprudential - legal studies of woman and family

The Scope of the Guardian's Authority (Wilāyah) over the Marriage of a Mature Virgin Girl (Bākirah Rashīdah) in the Scales of Critique

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
javad habibitabar 1
naser askarinejad 2
Farajollah Hedayatnia 3
abdollah Tavakkoli 4
1 Associate Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Judicial Law, Al-Mustafa International University, Qom, Iran
2 PhD Student in Women's Studies, specializing in Women's Rights in Islam, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Jurisprudence and Law, Islamic Research Institute for Culture and Thought, Qom, Iran
4 Associate Professor, Department of Management, Research Institute of Hawza and University, Qom, Iran
Abstract
From the perspective of Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh), the principle governing human relations is the absence of inherent guardianship (wilāyah), and the establishment of guardianship for any person is contingent upon evidence. Regarding the father's guardianship over minors (mawlā ʿalayh), there is definitive evidence, and the principle of this guardianship is not disputed. Minors exit from under their father's guardianship upon reaching puberty and maturity (bulūgh wa rushd), and there is no difference between boys and girls in this matter. However, the point of contention lies in whether, after a girl exits the domain of her compulsory guardian's (walī qahrī) authority, she remains under a guardian's authority in the matter of marriage or not? If she does, what is the scope of this authority? This research, conducted using an analytical-descriptive method, examines the jurisprudential opinions and evidence, as well as the legislator's position. The results of the investigation indicate that, from a jurisprudential perspective, the opinion advocating for the independence of a mature virgin (bākirah rashīdah) in her own marriage is defensible. Although, in the matter of marriage, due to evidence suggesting the necessity of precaution (iḥtiyāṭ), it is more prudent (aḥwaṭ) for a mature virgin to seek permission from her guardian. The Civil Law, which adopts the opinion of shared guardianship (tashrīk fī al-wilāyah), is consistent with this precaution. However, imposing limitations on this decision-making based on contemporary social conditions is subject to critique.
 
Keywords
guardianship (wilāyah)
marriage (nikāḥ)
virgin (bākirah)
mature (rashīdah)
Subjects
The Holy Quran
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Jurisprudential - legal studies of woman and family
Volume 8, Issue 15 - Serial Number 15
September 2025
Pages 91-118

  • Receive Date 28 April 2022
  • Revise Date 19 July 2022
  • Accept Date 19 August 2022