Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

My Uncle(mother`s brother) signed as witness of my marriage.He is 50 years old ,but not married. My sister in law says that he is not eligible to be a witness as he is not married.Is that correct?

What are the qualifications for a person to be a witness of marriage? 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Qualifications to be a witness to marriage

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: What are the qualifications for a person to be a witness of marriage? 

Any believer who is sane, adult, and trustworthy can be made a witness for a marriage in Shariah.

Your Statement: ….He is 50 years old ,but not married.My sister in law says that he is not eligible to be a witness as he is not married.Is that correct?

Regardless of the age of your uncle, regardless of whether he is married or unmarried….as long as your uncle is a believer, is sane and is trustworthy, he is eligible to be a witness for a marriage in Shariah.

Your sister-in-law who claims that an adult sane trustworthy believer cannot be made a witness for a marriage in Shariah only because he himself is unmarried should be asked to provide the evidence for her prohibition from the Quran or the Sunnah….and we absolutely assure you sister, that there is none!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan