Can a 15 year old teenager be a guardian in a marriage?

9-4-2023 | IslamWeb

Question:

As salamu laikum,Can a 15 year old teenager be a wallee in a marriage if the eldest male is non-Muslim, or should they have an Imam stand in, and if they have already done the contract should they do it again with an older Muslim male?Thank you, may Allah reward you.

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  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

Whoever has reached the age of fifteen has become a pubescent person, therefore he is considered a man and has the same rights and responsibilities. Therefore, if there is no closer guardian to the woman than him, then he is her first and most suitable guardian - like this Muslim brother in this case - who has priority in marrying her off than someone who has a general mandate, such as a Sharee'ah judge and whoever takes his place. There is no need then to reconduct the marriage contract, nor to involve another Imam and the like.

Allah knows best.

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