Hazara Islamicus (Dec 2018)
Practice of Elopements in Pakistan: An Analytical Study of Runway Marriages in Contemporary Islamic Law
Abstract
In Islamic law, marriage is a bond conducted between the genders after certain considerations. The purpose of marriage is to join the two persons and their families for the betterment of the family and society. In Pakistan, the majority of the marriages for women is conducted upon the approval of the parents and deemed acceptable for the ward. Contrary to that, elopements are rising in Pakistani society. In case of elopements, usually the girl leaves her house at night with her beloved and conduct their marriage contact without the approval of her parents. Islamic law encourages Muslims to publicise the marriage and for that purpose it is the tradition of the Prophet (s.a.w) to arrange a marriage feast. The runaway marriages are conducted secretly and thus their legality is questioned. This article is divided into three parts; the first section discusses the issue of elopement according to classical Islamic scholars, the second part elaborates on the role of Muslim parents in the practice of elopement, while the last part examines the legal status of runaway marriages in Pakistan and other Islamic countries. The research suggests that elopements should be discouraged because they disrupt the family structure and isolate the couples from the society.
