The Drawbacks and Ruling of Marriage of Convenience

The Drawbacks and Ruling of Marriage of Convenience In our modern era, marriage is no longer always seen as a sacred bond between two people. There are now many reasons why a man and woman might marry, including marriage of convenience. In this article, we will explore the drawbacks and ruling of marriage of convenience, explain the reasons behind such marriages, and how they are conducted. We will also discuss the Islamic legal perspective on marriage of convenience.

Reasons for Marriage of Convenience

Before discussing the drawbacks and ruling of marriage of convenience, it can be said that such marriages between a man and a woman may be established for work or by mutual agreement for the benefit of both parties. One of the most common forms of marriage of convenience is when someone marries to obtain foreign citizenship. If agreed upon between a man and a woman, the man may acquire the woman's citizenship in exchange for paying her a sum of money or providing her with certain services. It is agreed that the marriage will be officially registered in the country to grant him the corresponding benefits, including citizenship.

From this example, we can identify the main reasons and motivations for marriage of convenience as follows: 

• When a man marries a woman with foreign citizenship, it facilitates his immigration process, as her husband is granted the right to obtain that citizenship according to the specific laws of each country.
• To avoid issues of spinsterhood and social pressure, a woman may agree with a man to marry in exchange for waiving her right to mahr and financial support. Sometimes, there is a clear understanding between both parties. 
• To obtain certain benefits for the husband's family, such as completing transactions or networking with other women in the family to achieve mutual interests.
• To facilitate transactions in other countries or to qualify for a project tender that requires citizenship in a particular country.

The Rulings on Marriage of Convenience

There are two opinions regarding the rulings on marriage of convenience:

The first opinion prohibits this type of marriage: This is the view of the majority of scholars and religious authorities, who believe that marriage of convenience does not align with the Islamic principle of marriage, which is meant to be permanent and continuous, without a predetermined end date. It is seen as exploiting the woman and her circumstances, treating marriage as a temporary arrangement agreed upon by both men and women for mutual benefit. 

The second opinion permits it: Some scholars and shuyukh allow marriage of convenience based on the hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) regarding the motives for marriage: "A woman is married for her wealth, her status, her beauty, and her religion." However, this opinion is not widely accepted among religious authorities or schools of thought. The majority maintain that marriage of convenience is not valid according to Islamic law.

The Outcome of Marriage of Convenience

The outcome and consequences of marriage of convenience depend on the nature of the marriage, the level of agreement and consent, and the awareness of both parties regarding each other's intentions and goals.

• The couple may continue living together in the usual way if they wish to stay together after achieving their mutual goals and interests.
• Divorce may occur if the couple separates after fulfilling the terms of the marriage of convenience and the mutual benefits have been realized. 
• The official or paper marriage may continue if it is necessary for the relationship to exist in name only, depending on the general situation and interests involved.
• One of the main drawbacks and rulings of marriage of convenience is that its outcome is often a sense of alienation from life and its difficulties, especially in cases of pregnancy and children, affecting both men and women.
• Frequent marital conflicts and stressful family problems drain men, women, and children who live in unhealthy environments.

The Drawbacks and Ruling of Marriage of Convenience

Some may think that marriage of convenience is only a temporary phase, but it is actually very dangerous and has far more negative consequences than temporary benefits. The drawbacks and rulings of marriage of convenience include:

• If marriage is treated as a transaction, the person seeks to gain as much as possible and leaves once the benefit or need is fulfilled.
• One of the most significant drawbacks is that it reduces people to commodities that can be bought and sold for the sake of personal gain.
• When one spouse discovers that their partner married them for ulterior motives, it is an extremely unpleasant and painful feeling. 
• Everyone achieves only temporary and fleeting goals, leading to a lack of trust in the opposite gender, especially if one spouse was unaware of the other's intentions to end the marriage and separate. This completely contradicts the concept and purpose of marriage, which is based on stability, affection, and respect, and undermines trust in the opposite gender, marriage, and human relationships in general.
• There is a constant fear among those involved, not only in family relationships but also in other interests, making it difficult to trust others on all levels.
• Divorce becomes common and immorality spreads widely, leading people to engage in such practices without shame. 

With this, we have reached the end of our article after discussing the drawbacks and ruling of marriage of convenience, its regulations, and its purposes.