Abstract:
Marriage is a contract that imposes significant responsibilities on both the man and
woman involved. One party to this contract is the groom, and it is a fundamental
principle of Islamic law that he possesses complete autonomy in entering into this
contract. The next party to the contract is the bride. It is debated in Islamic law
whether she has full autonomy in entering into the contract or whether her
guardian, usually her father, has the right to enter into the contract on her behalf.
This is a nuanced issue within Islamic law that is to be investigated in this article.
Additionally, the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act is also discussed.