‘Urfi Marriage: Meaning, Consequences, and Challenges in Modern Society

In recent years, many young people have turned to ‘urfi marriage as the costs of marriage have become more than they can bear.

Many Arab countries have witnessed a significant spread of what is known as ‘urfi marriage across various religions and traditions.

An Overview of ‘Urfi Marriage:

‘Urfi marriage refers to a relationship between a man and a woman based on a written agreement between them, without an official Islamic contract. In this type of marriage, the woman marries herself to the man without the presence of her family.

This contract is often kept secret, with only two witnesses and another person who records the contract.

It is worth noting that this type of marriage does not entail any financial obligations, nor does it grant the woman any Islamic rights over the man.

Why Has ‘Urfi Marriage Become Popular Among Young People in the Arab World?

This type of marriage has become popular among young people in recent times for several reasons, which can be summarized as follows:

1. Harsh social conditions that make it impossible for young men to afford all the costs of marriage.
2. Widespread unemployment and limited job opportunities.
3. Prevailing customs that require young men to bear the full expenses of marriage.
4. Psychological reasons.

Forms and Most Common Types of ‘Urfi Marriage:

‘Urfi marriage includes several forms that vary from one society to another and from one individual to another, depending on beliefs and religious laws. Among these types:

‘Urfi Marriage Fulfilling All Conditions and Pillars:

This type of ‘urfi marriage fulfills all the pillars of an Islamic marriage, except that it is not registered on an official document. It is conducted with a paper indicating the presence of witnesses and a wali only.

‘Urfi Marriage Lacking Conditions and Pillars:

This type of ‘urfi marriage has recently spread in many countries, where the woman marries herself to the man without the presence of a wali. This type does not entail any financial obligations or rights for the woman over the man.

Negative Consequences of ‘Urfi Marriage:

‘Urfi marriage has many negative consequences that become apparent as this type of marriage spreads. The most prominent of these are:

Loss of Women's Rights:

Since there is no official document specifying the woman’s rights in this type of marriage, the loss of the handwritten paper by the wali and witnesses can result in the woman’s rights being lost, as her marriage remains unproven.

‘Urfi Marriage Contradicts Sharia:

This type of marriage may contradict what is prescribed in Sharia regarding the rights and duties that a marital relationship must be based on.

Erosion of Values in Society:

A woman choosing her own husband and marrying herself to him without her family’s knowledge can, in the long run, lead to the erosion of authentic Arab values and morals.

Challenges Facing ‘Urfi Marriage in Arab Societies:

Recently, many entities have fought against ‘urfi marriage and penalized those who engage in it. This is one of the challenges facing ‘urfi marriage, in addition to:

Societal Rejection of Those Married ‘Urfiyyan:

One of the harshest challenges facing ‘urfi marriage in Arab societies is the rejection and lack of respect faced by those who marry in this way.

No Rights for Children Born from ‘Urfi Marriage:

Another obstacle is that children born from ‘urfi marriages are deprived of the rights enjoyed by children from a legal marriage, since ‘urfi marriage is not considered an official marriage.

Inability to Publicize ‘Urfi Marriage:

Many laws in Arab countries do not recognize ‘urfi marriage as an official form of marriage, making it impossible to publicize such marriages due to their contradiction with the laws and regulations of these countries. If you wish to enter into an ‘urfi marriage, secrecy is the most important factor.

Neglect of Lineage:

Those married ‘urfi cannot prove their marriage, making it impossible to register their children with the state. As a result, children are considered of unknown lineage because the parents’ marriage is not registered in official Sharia courts.

Most Notable ‘Urfi Marriage Offices in the Arab World:

Mizwaj has provided many services related to marriage, especially regarding ‘urfi marriage, and its services have gained wide recognition for several reasons:

1. Mizwaj is safe and offers ‘urfi marriage services in dedicated offices.
2. Mizwaj respects client privacy.
3. The ‘urfi marriage services provided by Mizwaj offices are of high quality.
4. The site offers various services at competitive prices.
5. The site includes a group of lawyers who facilitate ‘urfi marriage contracts.
6. Mizwaj can help by providing you with a clear understanding of ‘urfi marriage.
7. You can obtain consultation services from specialists and experts in ‘urfi marriage through the site.

This article has summarized the topic of ‘urfi marriage, its consequences, and the most prominent challenges faced by those who marry in this way. We hope this article provides all the information you wish to know about ‘urfi marriage.