Marriage Contracts in a Drama Are Invalid Fatwa No: 418183
- Fatwa Date:21-4-2020
Assalamu Allikum. I hard that if a man says so and so is my wife and the woman comfrims their marriage will be valid according to some scholars. Does that mean if 2 unmarried people acts as husbend and wife in drama they becomes real husband and wife or I misunderstood something.
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
After researching the references available to us, we did not find the case you mentioned at the beginning of your question and upon which you based the rest of the question.
With regard to the marriage contract conducted by actors in drama shows, we believe that it is invalid, and Allah Knows best. This is because there are certain conditions that must be met for a marriage contract to be valid, including the Eejaab (proposal) and Qabool (acceptance), the consent of the Wali (bride’s legal guardian) and witnesses, that the bride and groom be free of impediments (to marriage), as well as other conditions that are not met in the case of acting.
We warn against making unserious references to marriage and similar matters, even while acting or in jest; this is not a matter to be trifled with. Ibn Taymiyyah said in Al-Fataawa Al-Kubra: “…The Lawgiver (Allah) forbids treating the verses (laws) of Allah as a jest or that a man speaks of the verses of Allah, which are the contracts, except in a serious manner that denotes commitment to their relevant conditions and obligations under the Sharee‘ah. Hence, it is forbidden to joke about them.” [End of quote]
Allah Knows best.