Legality and Validity of Muslim Marriage? by: Saqib-Admin
Dear Aditi,
You have raised a couple of issues in your comments. First, need of an Imam for a legal Muslim marriage. Second, need of an Imam for a valid Muslim marriage. Legality relates to the law of the land where you live upon. Validity relates to the basic principles of Islam about Marriage. A valid marriage may not be a legal marriage in certain areas of the world. Similarly, a legal marriage does not necessarily to be a valid marriage.
My answer to these questions is that a valid Muslim marriage does not need an Imam to preside over it. However, you may need an Imam to legalize a marriage if law of a land demands so.
As far as valid Muslim marriage of a male Muslim with a Christian or a Jew women is concerned, there is no bar. However, a Muslim woman can't marry a Christian and a Jew male. Furthermore, a Muslim male or female can't enter into a valid Muslim marriage with Hindus, Bhuddists etc. Though it may be legal in certain areas of the world.
