سوال

I was in a relationship with a man, and we both intended to make our bond halal through a proper Islamic nikkah. However, his family was hesitant and did not support the marriage. He later obtained a fatwa from a local council which claimed that a secret nikkah is permissible — even without the girl’s wali or the presence of her family.

Based on this, we proceeded with a private nikkah. His younger brother acted as my representative (Qaasid) and also performed the nikkah himself, serving as the Qadhi. Two of his friends were present as witnesses (gawah). No one from my family was informed or present, and I did not have a wali from my side.

If the above-mentioned way of doing nikkah is considered valid, then I would also like to ask:
Is it possible to request an annulment due to the absence of a wali, emotional harm, and psychological distress — with the support of a witness?

I kindly request a clear ruling on this matter.

اَلجَوَابْ بِاسْمِ مُلْہِمِ الصَّوَابْ

If a girl is an adult and mentally mature (sane), and she appoints someone as her representative (wakeel) for the nikah, and that wakeel conducts the marriage in the presence of two adult Muslim men or one man and two women, and the groom is suitable (equal/kufu) for her — then this nikah is valid in Islamic law.

Once this nikah is done properly, the girl is not allowed to marry someone else, and the parents have no right to force a divorce or cancel the marriage.

However, if the nikah was done without the permission of the wali (guardian), and the mahr (dowry) was fixed very low compared to what is normally given in her family (mahr-e-mithl), then the wali has the right to object and request the court to increase the mahr to match the family standard,or  annul the marriage due to the low mahr.That’s why it is better to set the mahr at a fair level — equal to what other similar women in her family received.

Note:
Mahr-e-Mithl means the dowry that women of the same family usually receive, based on similar qualities — such as age, beauty, education, wealth, background, religiousness, and location. For example, if she is young, pretty, educated, and got married as a virgin, then look for another woman in her family with the same qualities at the time of her marriage — and whatever mahr she received is considered the fair standard.

«حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي» (3/ 84):

«فإن حاصله: أن المرأة إذا زوجت نفسها من كفء لزم على الأولياء وإن زوجت من غير كفء لا يلزم أو لا يصح بخلاف جانب الرجل فإنه إذا تزوج بنفسه مكافئة له أو لا فإنه صحيح لازم.»

«فتح القدير للكمال بن الهمام - ط الحلبي» (3/ 291):

«ولما كانت الكفاءة شرط اللزوم على الولي إذا عقدت بنفسها حتى كان له الفسخ عند عدمها كانت فرع وجود الولي وهو بثبوت الولاية، فقدم بيان الأولياء ومن تثبت له ثم أعقبه فصل الكفاءة (قوله معتبرة) قالوا: معناه معتبرة في اللزوم على الأولياء حتى إن عند عدمها جاز للولي الفسخ.»

«حاشية ابن عابدين = رد المحتار ط الحلبي» (3/ 94):

«(‌ولو ‌نكحت ‌بأقل ‌من ‌مهرها فللولي) العصبة (الاعتراض حتى يتم) مهر مثلها (أو يفرق) القاضي بينهما دفعا للعار... (قوله الاعتراض) أفاد أن العقد صحيح. وتقدم أنها لو تزوجت غير كفء. فالمختار للفتوى رواية الحسن أنه لا يصح العقد، ولم أر من ذكر مثل هذه الرواية هنا، ومقتضاه أنه لا خلاف في صحة العقد، ولعل وجهه أنه يمكن الاستدراك هنا بإتمام مهر المثل، بخلاف عدم الكفاءة والله تعالى أعلم.»