| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Legal Nature | Contract (aqd) for purposes of legalizing sexual intercourse and procreation of children |
| Abdul Kadir v. Salima (1886) | Marriage is not a sacrament but a civil contract |
| Essentials | Proposal (ijab), acceptance (qubul), free consent, competent parties, valid consideration (dower) |
| Shia View | Presence of witnesses not essential; temporary marriage (muta) permitted |
| Sunni View | Presence of two male or one male and two female witnesses mandatory; muta prohibited |
| Category | Rule |
|---|---|
| Age | Puberty (15 years presumed); guardian can contract marriage of minor but repudiation option (khyar-ul-bulugh) available on attaining puberty |
| Soundness of Mind | Person of unsound mind cannot contract marriage; guardian may contract with court permission |
| Guardian (Wali) | Order: father, paternal grandfather, brother, paternal uncle; mother not recognized as wali under Sunni law but recognized under Shia law |
| Prohibition | Details |
|---|---|
| Two Sisters Simultaneously | Man cannot marry two sisters at same time or wife and her aunt |
| Fifth Wife | Maximum four wives at a time; fifth marriage void |
| Wife in Iddat | Marriage to woman undergoing iddat period is irregular (fasid) |
| Absence of Witnesses (Sunni) | Marriage without proper witnesses is irregular, not void |
| Interfaith Marriage | Muslim man can marry kitabiya (Christian/Jew) but not idolatress; Muslim woman cannot marry non-Muslim |
| Type | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Sahih (Valid) | All legal requirements met; creates full rights and obligations including inheritance, legitimacy, dower |
| Batil (Void) | Marriage within prohibited degrees; no legal effects; cohabitation does not validate |
| Fasid (Irregular) | Marriage with relative prohibitions; becomes valid upon removal of irregularity; children legitimate if consummated |
| Muta (Temporary) | Fixed-term marriage; valid only in Shia law; children legitimate; wife entitled to agreed consideration |
| Concept | Details |
|---|---|
| Definition | Sum of money or property promised by husband to wife as effect of marriage |
| Legal Nature | Wife's absolute right; debt on husband; not consideration but effect of marriage |
| Mahr-i-Muajjal (Prompt) | Payable on demand before or after consummation; wife can refuse conjugal rights until paid |
| Mahr-i-Muwajjal (Deferred) | Payable on dissolution of marriage by death or divorce |
| Proper Dower | Amount specified in contract; minimum no limit, maximum no limit |
| Unspecified Dower | Mahr-ul-mithl determined by status, age, beauty, fortune, intellect of wife and financial position of husband's family |
| Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| By Husband (Talaq) | Unilateral right of husband to dissolve marriage by pronouncement |
| By Wife (Khula, Talaq-i-Tafweez) | Wife-initiated dissolution with or without husband's consent |
| By Mutual Consent (Mubarat) | Both parties desire separation |
| Judicial (Faskh) | Court dissolves marriage on specific grounds |
| By Operation of Law | Lian (mutual allegation of adultery), apostasy |
| Type | Procedure |
|---|---|
| Talaq-ul-Sunnat (Approved) | Ahsan: single pronouncement during tuhr (period of purity), followed by abstinence during iddat; revocable until iddat expires |
| Talaq-ul-Sunnat (Approved) | Hasan: three pronouncements in three successive tuhrs without intercourse; revocable until third pronouncement |
| Talaq-ul-Biddat (Irregular) | Triple talaq in one sitting or single irrevocable pronouncement; effective immediately but sinful; abolished by Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019 |
| Talaq-e-Tafweez (Delegated) | Husband delegates power to pronounce talaq to wife or third party; wife exercises at her discretion |
| Type | Example & Effect |
|---|---|
| Talaq-ul-Taalik (Contingent) | Divorce effective on occurrence of specified contingency (e.g., "if I marry again"); valid if contingency occurs |
| Conditional Talaq | Subject to condition precedent; valid only if reasonable and not opposed to public policy |
| Constructive Talaq | Wife given option to divorce herself if certain acts done by husband; treated as talaq-e-tafweez |
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Definition | Wife purchases her release from marriage bond by returning dower or other consideration |
| Husband's Consent | Required; wife offers consideration, husband accepts and releases her |
| Effect | Irrevocable dissolution; no iddat-related reconciliation rights |
| Consideration | Wife may return whole or part of dower or give other property; cannot exceed dower amount |
| Court Intervention | If husband refuses, wife may approach court under Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939 |
| Ground (Section 2) | Details |
|---|---|
| (i) Whereabouts Unknown | Husband's whereabouts unknown for 4 years |
| (ii) Failure to Maintain | Husband failed to provide maintenance for 2 years |
| (iii) Imprisonment | Husband sentenced to 7 years or more imprisonment |
| (iv) Failure of Marital Obligations | Husband failed to perform marital obligations for 3 years without reasonable cause |
| (v) Impotence | Husband impotent at time of marriage and continues to be |
| (vi) Insanity/Leprosy/VD | Husband insane for 2 years, suffering from leprosy or virulent venereal disease |
| (vii) Child Marriage Repudiation | Wife married before 15, repudiated before 18 (provided marriage not consummated) |
| (viii) Cruelty | Husband treats her with cruelty (physical/mental abuse, forced immoral life, disposes her property, obstructs religious practice, polygamy with unequal treatment, any other valid ground) |
| Concept | Legal Effect |
|---|---|
| Ila | Husband's oath to abstain from sexual intercourse with wife; if abstinence continues for 4 months, wife entitled to judicial divorce |
| Zihar | Husband compares wife to mother or other prohibited relative; must expiate by freeing slave, fasting 60 days, or feeding 60 poor persons before resuming marital relations |
| Effect | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Dower | Entire dower (prompt + deferred) becomes payable immediately in talaq; in khula, wife returns agreed amount |
| Iddat Period | Wife must observe waiting period before remarriage |
| Maintenance During Iddat | Husband liable to maintain wife during iddat period |
| Custody of Children | Mother entitled to custody (hizanat) subject to age limits and conditions |
| Remarriage (Halala) | After third talaq, parties cannot remarry unless wife marries another man, consummates, and is divorced by him |
| Circumstance | Duration |
|---|---|
| After Divorce (Regular Menses) | Three menstrual courses (three tuhrs) |
| After Divorce (No Menses) | Three lunar months |
| After Divorce (Pregnant) | Until delivery of child |
| After Death of Husband (Not Pregnant) | 4 months 10 days |
| After Death of Husband (Pregnant) | Until delivery or 4 months 10 days, whichever is longer |
| After Consummation | Iddat mandatory |
| Before Consummation | No iddat for divorce; iddat required for death |
| Aspect | Rule |
|---|---|
| During Marriage | Husband's absolute obligation to maintain wife; includes food, clothing, lodging |
| Wife's Duty | Wife must be obedient and allow cohabitation; disobedient wife (nashiza) forfeits maintenance |
| Quantum | According to husband's means and status; no fixed amount |
| Standard | Wife entitled to live in manner she was accustomed to in father's house or husband's own standard, whichever is higher |
| During Iddat | Husband must maintain wife during entire iddat period following divorce |
| After Iddat | Under traditional Muslim law, no maintenance after iddat; modified by Muslim Women Act, 1986 |
| Section | Provision |
|---|---|
| Section 3(1)(a) | Reasonable and fair provision and maintenance within iddat period |
| Section 3(1)(b) | Mahr amount to be paid if not already paid |
| Section 3(1)(c) | Return of all properties gifted by wife, relatives, or friends |
| Section 4 | Magistrate may order relatives (who would inherit) to pay maintenance if husband unable; if no relatives, State Wakf Board to pay |
| Section 5 | Mahr deemed to be within iddat period for purposes of Section 125 CrPC applicability |
| Case | Principle |
|---|---|
| Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano (1985) | Divorced Muslim woman entitled to maintenance under Section 125 CrPC beyond iddat period; triggered enactment of 1986 Act |
| Danial Latifi v. Union of India (2001) | 1986 Act constitutional; "reasonable and fair provision" under Section 3(1)(a) includes maintenance for entire life or until remarriage; husband must make provision within iddat for post-iddat period |
| Shamima Farooqui v. Shahid Khan (2015) | Muslim divorced wife can claim maintenance under both 1986 Act and Section 125 CrPC; remedies not mutually exclusive after Danial Latifi |
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Applicability | Applies to all religions including Muslims; secular provision |
| Who Can Claim | Wife (including divorced wife unable to maintain herself), children, parents |
| Conditions for Wife | Unable to maintain herself; not living in adultery; husband with sufficient means neglects or refuses maintenance |
| Quantum | Maximum Rs. 10,000 per month (as amended); court determines based on needs and husband's income |
| Divorced Muslim Woman | Can claim maintenance beyond iddat under Section 125 CrPC read with Danial Latifi judgment |
| Disentitlement | Wife living in adultery, refuses to live with husband without sufficient reason, parties living separately by mutual consent |
| Category | Rule |
|---|---|
| Father's Obligation | Father must maintain children until sons attain majority, daughters marry |
| Son's Age Limit | Until attainment of majority (18 years); if physically/mentally infirm, obligation continues |
| Daughter's Maintenance | Until marriage regardless of age; father's obligation ceases upon marriage |
| Illegitimate Children | Father not liable; mother must maintain |
| Mother's Obligation | Mother liable only if father unable to maintain and mother has means |
| Standard | According to father's means and status of family |
| Relation | Liability |
|---|---|
| Parents | Children (sons and daughters) must maintain indigent parents unable to maintain themselves from their own property |
| Priority | Son primarily liable; daughter liable if son unable |
| Poor Relatives | Under Hanafi law, relatives who are entitled to inherit are liable to maintain poor relations in same proportion as they would inherit |
| Under Section 125 CrPC | Parents can claim maintenance from children; children from parents |
| Principle | Description |
|---|---|
| Welfare Paramount | Best interest and welfare of child is paramount consideration |
| Mother's Preference | Mother has preferential right during tender age; child needs mother's care |
| Father's Right | Father is natural guardian for property and person after custody age limits |
| Religion Factor | Child should be brought up in father's religion |
| School/Child's Gender | Age Limit |
|---|---|
| Hanafi Law - Son | Until age 7 years |
| Hanafi Law - Daughter | Until age of puberty (approximately 9 years) |
| Shia Law - Son | Until age 2 years |
| Shia Law - Daughter | Until age 7 years |
| Maliki Law | Child can choose parent after puberty |
| Priority Order (Hanafi) | Relation |
|---|---|
| 1 | Mother's mother (maternal grandmother) and her mother |
| 2 | Father's mother (paternal grandmother) and her mother |
| 3 | Full sister |
| 4 | Uterine sister |
| 5 | Full sister's daughter |
| 6 | Maternal aunt, then paternal aunt |
| 7 | Father (after female relations exhausted or disqualified) |
| Type | Details |
|---|---|
| Natural Guardian | Father, then father's father (paternal grandfather); mother not recognized as natural guardian under Hanafi law |
| Father's Powers | Guardian of person and property during minority; can contract marriage of minor child |
| Testamentary Guardian | Father can appoint guardian by will; mother can appoint under Shia law |
| Court-Appointed Guardian | Under Guardians and Wards Act, 1890; court considers welfare of child |
| Shia Law Exception | Mother recognized as natural guardian after father and paternal grandfather |
| Act/Provision | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Guardians and Wards Act, 1890 | Applies to Muslims; court appoints guardian considering welfare; paramount consideration is child's welfare |
| Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956 | Not applicable to Muslims |
| Section 125 CrPC | Parents liable to maintain children; custodial parent can claim maintenance |
| Section 488 CrPC (Old) | Now replaced by Section 125 CrPC |
| Concept | Rule |
|---|---|
| Child of Valid Marriage | Legitimate if born during marriage or within period of gestation after dissolution |
| Period of Gestation | Minimum 6 months from marriage; maximum 2 years (Hanafi) or 10 months (Shia) from separation |
| Presumption | Child born to married woman presumed legitimate unless non-access proved |
| Acknowledgment | Father can acknowledge paternity of child of unknown parentage; once acknowledged, irrevocable |
| Conditions for Acknowledgment | Acknowledger of age of acknowledged child possible; acknowledged person's parentage unknown; acknowledged person accepts if of age |
| Fasid Marriage Child | Child of irregular marriage legitimate if born after consummation |
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Revocable Talaq (Raji) | Husband can revoke talaq during iddat period; reconciliation possible |
| Irrevocable Talaq (Bain) | Cannot be revoked; parties cannot reunite except through fresh marriage with new contract and dower |
| Talaq Bain Sughra | Lesser irrevocable talaq; parties can remarry with fresh contract |
| Talaq Bain Kubra | Greater irrevocable talaq (after third talaq); parties cannot remarry unless wife marries another, consummates, and is divorced |
| Halalah | Intervening marriage required after third talaq before parties can remarry each other; must be bona fide marriage |
| Aspect | Provision |
|---|---|
| Section 2 | Shariat applies to Muslims in matters of marriage, divorce, maintenance, dower, guardianship, gifts, waqf, succession |
| Applicability | Applies to all Muslims in India except state of Goa |
| Custom | Overrides customs inconsistent with Shariat; parties can opt out of customary law |
| Section | Provision |
|---|---|
| Section 3 | Triple talaq void and illegal |
| Section 4 | Offence: imprisonment up to 3 years and fine; cognizable and non-bailable |
| Section 5 | Magistrate may release accused on bail after hearing wife; can impose conditions |
| Section 6 | Offence compoundable at instance of wife on terms and conditions determined by Magistrate |
| Section 7 | Wife entitled to subsistence allowance for herself and dependent children from husband |
| Section 8 | Wife entitled to custody of minor children; Magistrate determines custody arrangement |
| Case/Principle | Significance |
|---|---|
| Article 13 | Personal laws not "laws in force" for Article 13; but subject to fundamental rights scrutiny |
| Article 14 | Triple talaq violates equality before law and equal protection |
| Article 15 | Gender discrimination in personal laws challengeable |
| Article 21 | Right to live with dignity; arbitrary divorce violates human dignity |
| Article 25 | Freedom of religion subject to public order, morality, health; not absolute |
| Article 44 | Directive Principle: Uniform Civil Code for all citizens; not enforceable but guides legislation |
| Case | Key Holding |
|---|---|
| Mohd. Ahmed Khan v. Shah Bano (1985) | Muslim divorced woman entitled to maintenance under Section 125 CrPC beyond iddat; maintenance secular not religious obligation |
| Danial Latifi v. Union of India (2001) | Muslim Women Act, 1986 constitutional; reasonable and fair provision includes post-iddat maintenance; must be paid within iddat |
| Shayara Bano v. Union of India (2017) | Triple talaq unconstitutional; violates Articles 14, 21; not integral to Islam; 3:2 majority struck down practice |
| Shamima Farooqui v. Shahid Khan (2015) | Muslim divorced woman can seek maintenance under both 1986 Act and Section 125 CrPC; remedies not mutually exclusive |
| Mohd. Hanif v. Pathummal (2018) | Mahr is immediate debt on husband; wife can refuse to enter matrimonial home until prompt dower paid |
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961 | Notice to Union Council/Chairman required within 30 days of talaq; applied in India through judicial interpretation |
| Notice to Wife | Copy of notice to be sent to wife; without notice, talaq not effective |
| Reconciliation Period | 90 days for reconciliation attempts after notice given |
| Legal Effect | Talaq takes effect only after 90-day period expires |
| Penalties | Failure to give notice may attract penalty; talaq without notice void |
| Step | Process |
|---|---|
| Petition | Filed before First Class Magistrate or Metropolitan Magistrate |
| Jurisdiction | Where person entitled to maintenance resides |
| Proof Required | Marriage, inability to maintain self, husband's means and neglect |
| Interim Maintenance | Court may grant pending final order |
| Quantum | Based on needs of wife and means of husband; maximum Rs. 10,000 per month |
| Appeal | To Sessions Court within 30 days |
| Enforcement | Warrant of attachment, recovery as fine, imprisonment for default |
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Nikahnama | Marriage contract document signed by parties and witnesses; best evidence |
| Marriage Certificate | If marriage registered; conclusive proof |
| Oral Evidence | Testimony of parties, witnesses present at nikah |
| Presumption | Long cohabitation as husband-wife raises presumption of valid marriage |
| Documentary Evidence | Joint photographs, correspondence, bank accounts, residence proof showing marital relationship |