Nikah 'urfi

Nikah 'urfi (Arabic: نكاح العرفي) is a "customary [marriage contract] that commonly requires a walī (guardian) and witnesses but not to be officially registered with state authorities. Couples repeat the words, "We got married" and pledge commitment, although there are many other informal ways in which people marry 'urfi. Usually a paper, stating that the two are married, is written and at least two witnesses sign it, although others may record their commitment on a cassette tape and use other forms of documentation. Most Arab countries do not recognize 'urfi marriages and do not allow partners to get a 'legal' divorce since the government does not recognize the legality of the marriage in the first place. Unlike regular marriages, most 'urfi contracts are not publicised, are short-term in practice and do not require men to provide maintenance for the women. Sometimes these relationships are a way for people to have sexual relations within what is perceived to be a religiously licit framework. In many instances, 'urfi marriages are contracted without the permission of the woman's male guardian (Wali) and the relationship is often kept secret from family members.^[1]

^ Hasso, Frances (2011). Hasso, Frances S. Consuming Desires: Family Crisis and the State in the Middle East (Stanford University Press 2011). Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0804761567.

[1] Hasso, Frances (2011). Hasso, Frances S. Consuming Desires: Family Crisis and the State in the Middle East (Stanford University Press 2011). Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0804761567.

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