1119 - Issue: He [the author] said: "And this is not for other than the father."
Meaning, it is not for anyone other than the father to compel an adult woman [into marriage], nor to marry off a minor girl, whether he is a grandfather or someone else. This is the opinion of Malik, Abu Ubayd, al-Thawri, and Ibn Abi Layla. Al-Shafi'i also held this view, except regarding the grandfather, for he considered him the same as the father; because his guardianship is one of procreation, so he possesses the power to compel her (1) just like the father. Al-Hasan, Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz, Ata', Tawus, Qatada, [Ibn Shubruma] (2), al-Awza'i, and Abu Hanifa said: It is for other than the father to marry off the minor girl, and she has the choice when she reaches puberty. These scholars, other than Abu Hanifa, stated: If someone other than the father marries off two minors, they have the choice when they reach puberty. Abu al-Khattab said: Abdullah has transmitted from his father an opinion like that of Abu Hanifa; because Allah the Almighty said: {And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls, then marry those that please you of [other] women} (3). The implication is that if he does not fear [injustice], he may marry the orphan girl, and the orphan (4) is one who has not reached puberty; based on the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him): "There is no orphanhood after puberty" (5). Urwa said: I asked Aisha about the saying of Allah the Almighty: {And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls}. She replied: O son of my sister, this orphan girl is under the guardianship of her guardian, and he shares with her (6) in her wealth, and her wealth and beauty please him (7), so he wants to marry her without dealing justly regarding her dowry, by giving her the like of what others give her. Thus, they were forbidden from marrying them unless they deal justly with them and reach the highest standard for them regarding the dowry. This is agreed upon (8). And because he is a guardian in the marriage, he possesses the right to marry her off like the father. Our evidence is the saying
(1) In the original and B: "al-ijbar" (compulsion). (2) In the original: "Ibn Sirin". (3) Surah An-Nisa 3. (4) In the original and B: "wa al-yatima" (and the orphan girl). (5) Its derivation was previously mentioned on page 296. (6) In A, B, and M: "wa yushrikuha" (and he shares with her). (7) In the original: "aw jamaliha" (or her beauty). (8) Reported by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter of Partnership of the Orphan and the People of Inheritance, from the Book of Partnership; and in: The Chapter of the saying of Allah the Almighty: {And give the orphans their properties and do not substitute the defective [of your own] with the good [of theirs]...}, from the Book of Wills; and in: The Chapter of {And if you fear that you will not deal justly with the orphan girls}, from the Book of Tafsir; and in: The Chapter of Encouragement to Marriage, and the Chapter of Equality in Wealth and the Marriage of the Poor Man to the Wealthy Woman, and the Chapter of [No] man may marry more than four..., and the Chapter of If the Guardian is the Suitor..., and the Chapter of Marrying the Orphan Girl..., from the Book of Marriage; and in: The Chapter of What is Forbidden of Trickery for the Guardian regarding the Orphan Girl..., from the Book of Ruses. Sahih al-Bukhari 3/183, 4/11, 6/53, 54, 7/3, 10, 11, 21, 23, 24, 9/31. Muslim, in: The Book of Tafsir, Sahih Muslim 4/2313, 2314. It was also reported by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter of What is Disliked of Combining Among Women, from the Book of Marriage. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/477. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter of Justice in Dowries, from the Book of Marriage. Al-Mujtaba 6/95. (9) In B and M: "wa in" (and if). (10) Reported by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter of Consulting, from the Book of Marriage. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/483. And al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter of Asking the Virgin for Permission regarding Herself, and The Chapter of the Virgin Married by her Father while she is Reluctant, from the Book of Marriage. Al-Mujtaba 6/69, 72. It was also reported by al-Tirmidhi, in: The Book of What Has Been Said regarding Compelling the Orphan Girl into Marriage, from the Chapters of Marriage. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 5/29. And al-Darimi, in: The Chapter of the Orphan Girl Marrying Herself, from the Book of Marriage. Sunan al-Darimi 2/138. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 1/261, 334, 2/259, 475, 4/394, 408, 411. (11) In M: addition of "an" (from). (12) In the original: "fala" (then not). (13) Reported by al-Hakim, in: The Chapter of Do Not Marry Off Women Until You Consult Them, from the Book of Marriage. Al-Mustadrak 2/167. And al-Daraqutni, in: The Book of Marriage. Sunan al-Daraqutni 3/230. And al-Bayhaqi, in: The Chapter of What Has Been Said regarding the Marriage of the Orphan Girl, from the Book of Marriage. Al-Sunan al-Kubra 7/120, 121. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 2/130. (14) In M: "al-saghirah" (the minor). (15) In M: "yali" (he acts as guardian).
