Women’s autonomy in marriage: A comparison of the marriage guardians of widows in the Sunni and Shia schools of thought in Muslim countries
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the position of guardians in marriages for widows from the perspective of the Sunni schools of thought (Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali, and Hanafi) and compare it with the Shia Ja'fari school. The debate over the position of guardians in marriage contracts is a classic issue in the jurisprudence of munakahat (jurisprudence) and remains a significant topic of discussion in Islamic family law. The differences in views among these schools reflect the varying interpretations of scholars regarding women's authority to contract marriage, particularly for adult women such as widows.This study uses a normative legal method with a comparative approach through analysis of classical Islamic jurisprudential literature, family law regulations in several Muslim countries, and related academic studies. The results show that the majority of Sunni schools of thought, particularly the Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, require a guardian as a pillar or requirement for the validity of marriage, while the Hanafi and Shia Ja'fari schools provide greater leeway for adult women, including widows, to contract marriage independently.These differing views are also reflected in family law practices across Muslim countries. Indonesia and Malaysia, influenced by the Shafi'i school of thought, still require a guardian for marriage, while Iran, based on the Ja'fari Shia school, grants widows greater authority to marry independently. Meanwhile, Iraq and Jordan, influenced by the Hanafi school, demonstrate a more moderate approach, allowing some degree of autonomy for women within marriage.
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