Nikah of an Adult Young Man and Woman of Equal Standing Secretly from Their Parents

Question

Question: Can a young woman and a young man, of their own full will and secretly from their parents, accept each other according to the Shari‘a? Both parties belong to one and the same family and lineage (hasab and nasab), and are also Hanafi in their beliefs.

Answer

If they conduct the nikah, it will be valid according to the Shari‘a; but if the elders are present (lit. “over their heads”), taking the step themselves without consulting them is a disregard of them and unbecoming, especially in the case of the girl.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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