🧭 Preparation & choosing a spouse · #5

What does kafa'ah (compatibility) mean in marriage?

Kafa'ah means compatibility between the prospective husband and wife in certain respects, so that the marriage is more harmonious and does not shame the woman or her wali.
In the Shafi'i school, the aspects considered are religion and piety, lineage, free status, occupation, and freedom from defects that allow fasakh. Kafa'ah is a right of the woman and her wali, not a condition of validity of the marriage — if both are content, the marriage is valid even if they are not equals. Islam stresses that true honour is piety (al-Hujurat 49:13), so religion is the most important aspect. See kafa'ah and the marriage wali.

Differences between the schools. The Maliki school stresses only religion and freedom from defects; the Hanafi and Hanbali schools also take wealth and occupation into account; the Shafi'i school does not count wealth as an element of kafa'ah according to the authoritative view.

Sources

Surah al-Hujurat 49:13narrated by at-Tirmidhi (hasan)

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This answer is general reference, not a fatwa. For your situation, consult the religious affairs office, a Syarie lawyer or your state Syariah Court.

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