The Islamic Legal Perspective on the Minimum Age for Marriage

Abstract

From an Islamic perspective, marriage is not merely the union of two people a man and a woman but rather the formation of a sacred covenant in the name of Allah, in which the bride and groom intend to build a household that is harmonious, peaceful, and filled with love and affection. This article aims to explore the provisions regarding the marriageable age from the perspective of Islamic law. This study employs a qualitative method, specifically library research. Library research was chosen because the subject of this study focuses on the ideas, norms, concepts, and legal provisions of Islamic law regarding the marriageable age, which can be traced through various written sources. This study employs a normative-doctrinal approach, specifically by examining the provisions regarding the age of marriage based on sources of Islamic law. The concept of the marriageable age according to Islamic law varies. Some scholars state that the minimum age for a person to enter into marriage is puberty, characterized by wet dreams (ejaculation) for men and menstruation for women. Other scholars maintain that the minimum age for marriage is determined not only by physical characteristics but also by the maturity of the mind and soul. Thus, fundamentally, scholars do not provide a specific limit regarding the age of marriage. This is because even if a prospective spouse has not yet reached puberty, it does not invalidate the marriage, since the issue of the minimum age for marriage is not included among the pillars and conditions for a valid marriage.