Fatwa legalises Al Misyar marriage

Kuwait: A fatwa has legalised the Al Misyar marriage, sparking off controversy as well as praise.

Al Misyar marriage does not require that the couple live together nor that the man is economically responsible.

Dr Mohammad Saeed Al Tantawi, Shaikh of Al Azhar, justified the fatwa saying: "If a man and a woman were able to fill the requirements of a regular marriage, then their marriage procedures are legal and accepted yet if the woman has abandoned her right in accommodation that does not make their marriage false."

The fatwa was an answer for those who wanted to marry but couldn't afford the expenses of a regular marriage. According to the fatwa, the woman stays at her parents' house or on her own while the man can do the same and they meet occasionally.

Al Yaqaza, a Kuwaiti weekly magazine, conducted a survey to measure the acceptance of this marriage among Arab youths from 18 to 24. About 90 per cent refused this marriage as against 10 per cent who accepted it through need.

Huda Koripet, a single woman, said she did not accept the marriage.

Um Adel is Kataba, a matchmaker.

"This fatwa will take the embarrassment from many rich widows or divorced ladies who want to marry but don't want to leave their houses or have more babies."

Jassem Abdullah, a Kuwaiti widower, said: "I like the idea of this marriage because I already have many kids and want no more."

- The writer is a journalist based in Kuwait