No Age Restriction in Islamic Marriage – Director of Muslim Rights Concern

Prof. Ishaq Akintola, Director of Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has expressed support for the controversial underage marriage law currently generating furore in the polity.

ishaq

In a statement sent to African Examiner, an online magazine, he said teen marriage was in order, stressing that there is “no age factor in Islamic Marriage”.

According to him, “The conditions of marriage in Islam are four: Proposal and acceptance (al-Ijaab wa alqubuul), approval by both parents (ridaa alwaalidayn), payment of a dowry by the groom (al-mihr) and the presence of at least two male witnesses at the ceremony (shaahidayn ‘aadilayn).

“Age is therefore not part of the conditions which must be met before marriage can be solemnised in Islam. Where the bride is a ‘minor’, Islam prescribes protective solemnisation of marriage without consummation.

“This means that the girl who is deemed to be of tender age is left untouched by the man until she attains puberty. Another major condition for child marriage is that the girl herself has the right to repudiate the marriage when she attains maturity if she does not like her ‘spouse’.”

“Islam is a complete way of life and its institutions (including that of marriage) are based on divinely ordained and well documented rules. Whoever wishes to legislate constructively or comment objectively on any aspect of Islam must therefore arm himself with the divine and documentary evidence. Anything short of this will earn lawmakers and commentators disrespect and contempt of Islamdom,” he quipped.

Source: Vanguard

11 COMMENTS

  1. How is that anyone’s business? You guys are fond of imposing ur Islamic lifestyle on others. Go and practice that stuff in ur sharia states. It should not be legalized in the Nigerian constitution cos its already ur right in the sharia law as the teens to be married are also Muslims.

    • Stop disgracing yourself and your family in public places. The fact that you claim to be a Muslim and yet express so much blatant ignorance about Islamic rulings is an indication of poor home training and Islamic upbringing. If the law says it’s permissible, does it make it compulsory?! If you want to, go ahead, otherwise shut up and stop using man made laws to judge the rulings of your Creator. If you are not convinced that Islam is your way to salvation, now is a good time to abandon it and look elsewhere!!!

  2. And who will marry these girls,is it also a thirteen years old boy or atleast fifteen or is it people old enough to b their grand fathers? why are we abusing our girls,making them slaves in thier own fathers land? listen God is watching and one day He will judge d earth

  3. What are we makin noise abt.D section in question had been in d constitution 4 more dan 30yrs.If it did not affect us ever since,why will it now?Evidences of early marriages is noticeable in all religion and tribes in Nigeria.Let’s be rational at least 4 once.

  4. Consider this: LEGAL MARRIAGE AGES AROUND THE WORLD: FACTS AND FIGURES “In New Hampshire, United States, legal marriage age is 13 for girls and 14 for boys! In Michigan (US) it is 15 but girls can be married below 15 with parental consent. In Indiana (US) a girl can be married at 14 if she becomes pregnant. In Hawaii and Georgia (US) it is 15 with parental consent. Now let us go outside America, in Britain it is 16, in fact it is 15 in most European countries. In Venezuela it is 14 with parental consent, 14 in Paraguay, 14 in Mexico, Bolivia 14. Coming to the African continent, the legal marriage age is 14 in Mozambique and 15 in Gabon. In Angola it is 15, Niger 15, Cameroon 15, Congo DR 15, Benin 15, Kenya 16 and Madagascar 14. In Equitorial Guinea it is 12! So what is all the noise about? Tanzania adds a more pragmatic scenario: the legal marriage age is 14 but girls below 12 can marry for religious reason with the proviso that the marriage will not be consummated until the girl reaches 12. Gambia, Maldives, Saudi Arabia and Sudan place no age limit at all on marriage. Nigeria ranks among the most conservative in this area as marriage age is still 18 under the law.” – Prof. Ishaq Akintola

  5. Why are these Muslim guys disturbing us with under age marriage. They can marry those unborn it is no mans business. It is Muslim way of life and in line with Muslim injunction.Nigeria being a circular State no one can impose each others Beliefs on the other.However if the Muslims want the law built inn in the Nigeria constitution then they will be prepared to give the under age child to a none Muslim, that is liberalizing inter marriage.
    That is if I see any 12 to 13. Year old I like I go for her irrespective of the family she comes from.I know many of the Muslim guys are trying to have incursion into many Christian families,and if they are desperate they can convert to enjoy the nice service.

  6. Many renowned professors are on research how to help Humanity like the wonderful operation by American Doctors our own Professor is researching on marriage age.What a shame Ishaq. PHD in marriage age Professor of under age girls.

  7. ibn yayah i dont know where you get these your facts and figures from,but what i know is that america is a protective child abuse especiallly female under age in their everyday of life,but with what you said now i will go to my google and feed you back