Dr. Ibrahim Abdel Salam, Fatwa Authority official at Dar Al-Ifta, explained the ruling on informal marriage when the intention is to obtain a pension from a deceased father or mother.
He emphasized that an informal marriage is valid religiously if all conditions are fulfilled: the presence of a guardian, trustworthy witnesses, proper wording, and public announcement, even without official registration. However, official registration is crucial to safeguard both legal and religious rights, including inheritance, alimony, and lineage verification, as failure to register can lead to losing these rights in case of disputes or divorce.
Abdel Salam also warned against using informal marriage to manipulate pension eligibility, confirming that this practice is forbidden in Islam and under the law, as pension authorities require the woman to be unmarried. Circumventing this condition violates religious and legal regulations, citing the Prophet’s saying: “Muslims are bound by their conditions”. Any pension gained this way is religiously impermissible, and the couple should adhere strictly to lawful and religiously approved methods.
