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Fatwa CenterA Woman Acting as Guardian in Marriage and Arranging Proposals
Question
A hadith states that no woman should arrange the marriage of another woman, and that no woman should arrange her own marriage (Sunan Ibn Majah). But what if a woman is 35, divorced due to fertility issues, her father was verbally and mentally abusive and has not led her aright in marriage and the woman has already tried even at a masjid to find a spouse and nothing. She now finds herself unable to marry, so she wants to join an Islamic matchmaking run by women. Considering hadith, is this ok?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad (
) is His Slave and Messenger.
It is not valid for a woman to marry herself off or to conduct the marriage of another woman, meaning that she may not personally carry out the marriage contract. Rather, the one who conducts the marriage contract for a woman is her guardian, such as her father, grandfather, brother, and the like.
As for matchmaking between men and women for the purpose of engagement and marriage, this is permissible for a woman and is not related to the prohibition mentioned in the ahadith (prophetic narrations); provided that the marriage is completed in accordance with all of its essential legal requirements and prescribed Islamic conditions.
Allah Knows best
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