Fatwa ID: 09423
Answered by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Question:
I am a 17 year old male found a woman I wish to marry and have spoken to her to get nikkah done secretly so we can avoid committing zina and other sins We have made this decision as we can’t marry due to education and other circumstances but wish to do nikkah secretly
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Firstly, depending on your location, it may not be legal for you to undergo a Nikah. If you reside in England or Wales, you must be over 18 to get married. This applies even to non-registered ceremonies such as a Nikah. At 17, it would not be legal for you to do a Nikah, whether secretly or openly.
In Islam, a completely secret Nikah is absolutely invalid. A Nikah is only valid if it is performed in the presence of at least two mature, sane, adult Muslim males as witnesses.[2] In the Hanafi Madhhab, the girl does not require the permission of her Wali (guardian) for the Nikah to be valid.[3] However, if there is clear incompatibility between the two of you, her Wali has the right to annul the marriage. For example, if the girl is wealthy or religiously committed, and her husband is financially unstable or an open sinner (Fasiq), the Wali may rescind the Nikah even after it has taken place.[4-6]
Furthermore, I strongly advise you to seek the consent of the girl’s Wali before getting married. You are only 17 years old, and Nikah is a lifelong commitment. At your age, it is easy to think that marriage is simply a way to avoid Haram or to fulfil desires in a Halal way. But marriage comes with major responsibilities that require maturity, stability, and long-term planning.
For instance, once you get married, providing financial support for your wife becomes Wajib on you.[1] If Allah blesses you with children, raising them will be an even greater responsibility—emotionally, financially, and spiritually. These are burdens that require experience, wisdom, and steady income. In addition, if the girl’s family does not approve of the marriage, this can lead to long-term conflict and strain in your married life—issues that you may not be able to foresee due to your young age and limited life experience.
Therefore, you should seek the guardian’s approval before considering a Nikah. While his approval does not determine the validity of the Nikah in the Hanafi school, it does play a huge role in ensuring stability, harmony, and family acceptance. For the marriage to be valid, you only require two adult male Muslim witnesses present during the Nikah contract.
May Allah Ta‘ala make matters easy for you.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Sakib Shadman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
ولا تجب النفقة مع اختلاف الدين إلا للزوجة والأبوين والأجداد والجدات والولد وولد الولد) لما مر أن نفقة الزوجة بمقابلة الاحتباس
Al-Lubab Fi Sharh Al-Kitaab, Al-Maktaba Al-‘Ilmiyyah Beirut-Lebanon, 1392. Vol.3 p.105.
[2]
قَوْلُهُ: وَشُرِطَ حُضُورُ شَاهِدَيْنِ) أَيْ يَشْهَدَانِ عَلَى الْعَقْدِ
Radd Al-Muhtaar, Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, 1966. Vol.3 p.21.
[3]
فَمُعَارَضٌ بِقَوْلِهِ – صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – «الْأَيِّمُ أَحَقُّ بِنَفْسِهَا مِنْ وَلِيِّهَا» رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَالتِّرْمِذِيُّ وَالنَّسَائِيُّ وَمَالِكٌ فِي الْمُوَطَّأِ
Radd Al-Muhtaar, Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, 1966. Vol.3 p.55.
[4]
الْكَفَاءَةُ مُعْتَبَرَةٌ) فِي ابْتِدَاءِ النِّكَاحِ لِلُزُومِهِ أَوْ لِصِحَّتِهِ (مِنْ جَانِبِهِ) أَيْ الرَّجُلِ لِأَنَّ الشَّرِيفَةَ تَأْبَى أَنْ تَكُونَ فِرَاشًا لِلدَّنِيءِ وَلِذَا (لَا) تُعْتَبَرُ (مِنْ جَانِبِهَا
Radd Al-Muhtaar, Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, 1966. Vol.3 p.84.
[5]
وَ) الْكَفَاءَةُ (هِيَ حَقُّ الْوَلِيِّ لَا حَقُّهَا) فَلَوْ نَكَحَتْ رَجُلًا وَلَمْ تَعْلَمْ فَإِذَا هُوَ عَبْدٌ لَا خِيَارَ لَهَا بَلْ لِلْأَوْلِيَاءِ
Radd Al-Muhtaar, Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, 1966. Vol.3 p.85.
[6]
أَيْ تَقْوَى فَلَيْسَ فَاسِقٌ كُفُؤًا لِصَالِحَةٍ أَوْ فَاسِقَةٍ بِنْتِ صَالِحٍ مُعْلَنًا كَانَ أَوْ لَا
Radd Al-Muhtaar, Halabi ed., Daar Al-Fikr, 1966. Vol.3 p.89.