FatwaFederal TerritoriesMarriage & Family
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-724 : HUKUM KAHWIN BERWALIKAN ADIK ANGKAT SECARA TIDAK SENGAJA
Is a marriage valid if the bride's guardian was an adopted brother mistaken for a biological brother, and what is the status of their child?
Short answer
A marriage conducted with an adopted brother as guardian is invalid in Islamic law, because an adopted brother is not a guardian by lineage and has no nasab relationship with the bride.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Marriage & Family
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
A marriage conducted with an adopted brother as guardian is invalid in Islamic law, because an adopted brother is not a guardian by lineage and has no nasab relationship with the bride. It is classed as a defective marriage (nikah fasid), and intercourse within it is treated as mistaken intercourse (syubhah). The couple should apply to the court for dissolution (faraq nikah) and remarry through a state-appointed guardian (wali hakim) if no guardian by lineage exists. Their child remains legitimate, as the child was born of syubhah intercourse and not fornication.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Perkahwinan yang berlangsung dengan menggunakan adik angkat sebagai wali adalah tidak sah di sisi syarak.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-724 : HUKUM KAHWIN BERWALIKAN ADIK ANGKAT SECARA TIDAK SENGAJA”, 26 October 2022. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/5426-irsyad-al-fatwa-siri-ke-724-hukum-kahwin-berwalikan-adik-angkat-secara-tidak-sengaja. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/marriage-with-adopted-brother-as-guardian-mistaken/