Islamic Law of Marriage, Family, and Guardianship

Family law structures the domestic unit with explicit legal boundaries.

• Classifications: A marriage contract under Islamic law may be valid, irregular, or void.
• Irregular Marriages: A marriage contracted without witnesses is irregular. Similarly, a marriage with a woman before the completion of her Iddat is irregular. A marriage entered into by a female who has not yet attained puberty is classified as an irregular marriage.
• Key Terms:
• Jabr: Means the guardianship of marriage, or to force or compel.
• Tafweez: Represents a specific kind of delegated divorce.
• Hirzanat (Hizanat): Refers to the guardianship of the person of a minor.
• Inheritance Rule: According to the Islamic law of distribution, the male should have the portion of two females is equal (a son's share of inheritance is equal to that of two daughters).