Can a 15 year old teenager be a guardian in a marriage?

9-4-2023 | IslamWeb

Question:

As salamu laikum,Can a 15 year old teenager be a wallee in a marriage if the eldest male is non-Muslim, or should they have an Imam stand in, and if they have already done the contract should they do it again with an older Muslim male?Thank you, may Allah reward you.

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Answer:

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.

Whoever has reached the age of fifteen has become a pubescent person, therefore he is considered a man and has the same rights and responsibilities. Therefore, if there is no closer guardian to the woman than him, then he is her first and most suitable guardian - like this Muslim brother in this case - who has priority in marrying her off than someone who has a general mandate, such as a Sharee'ah judge and whoever takes his place. There is no need then to reconduct the marriage contract, nor to involve another Imam and the like.

Allah knows best.