Ruling on doing the marriage contract over the phone or Internet

The proposal (eejaab) and acceptance (qubool)
form one of the pillars or essential parts of the marriage contract, without
which it is not valid. The proposal is said by the wali (guardian) or his
proxy and the acceptance is said by the husband or his proxy. 

It is stipulated that the proposal and acceptance should come
in one sitting. It says in Kashshaaf al-Qinaa‘ (5/41): If there is a
lapse of time between the proposal and acceptance, it is valid so long as
both are done in the same gathering and there is no distraction that would
count as an interruption according to local custom, even if the interval
between the two is lengthy. But if they part before the acceptance is spoken
after the proposal has been issued, then the proposal becomes invalid. The
same applies if there is a distraction that interrupts the proceedings
according to local custom, because that is turning away from it and it is as
if the proposal had been rejected. End quote. 

Similarly, it is also stipulated that witnesses be present in
order for the marriage contract to be valid. 

Based on that, the scholars differed with regard to doing the
marriage contract by using modern needs such as the telephone and the
Internet. Some of them say that that is not permissible, because of the
absence of witnesses, even though the presence of two witnesses on the phone
at the same time comes under the same ruling as if they were in the same
place. This is the view of the Islamic Fiqh Council (Majma‘ al-Fiqh al-Islami). 

Some of the scholars are of the view that this should be
disallowed, as a precaution to protect the marriage, because it is possible
to imitate a person’s voice and thus deceive others. This is what is stated
in fatwas issued by the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas. 

Some of the scholars regard it as permissible so long as
there is no risk of tampering. This is what was stated in fatwas issued by
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him). 

Thus it is known that the problem is not the issue of being
the same place, because contact between both parties at the same time via
the phone or Internet comes under the same ruling as if they were in the
same place. 

It is also possible for this marriage contract to be
witnessed, by hearing the voice of the speaker over the phone or Internet;
in fact with technological advances nowadays it is possible to see the wali
and hear his voice when he makes the proposal, and it is also possible to
see the husband. 

Hence the most correct view with regard to this matter is
that it is permissible to do the marriage contract over the phone or
Internet, if there is no danger of tampering, the identity of the husband
and wali is proven, and the two witnesses can hear the proposal and
acceptance. This is what was stated in fatwas issued by Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may
Allah have mercy on him), as stated above. It is also what is implied by the
fatwa of the Standing Committee, which disallowed marriage in such cases as
a precaution and for fear of deceit. 

The one who wants to be on the safe side may do the marriage
contract by appointing proxies; so the husband or guardian may appoint
someone to do the marriage contract on his behalf in front of witnesses. 

There follow the comments of scholars that confirm what we
have referred to: 

1.    
Statement of the Islamic Fiqh
Council:

Statement no. 52 (6/2) concerning the ruling on contracts via
modern needs of communication. 

After stating that it is permissible to do contracts via
modern means of communication, the Council said: 

The guidelines mentioned above do not apply to the marriage
contract, because of the stipulation that witnesses be present in that case.
End quote. 

2.    
Fatwa of the Standing Committee
for Issuing Fatwas: 

Question: if the pillars or essential parts and conditions of
the marriage contract are fulfilled, except that the wali and the husband
are in different countries, is it permissible to do the marriage contract by
phone or not? 

Answer: because nowadays deceit and trickery are widespread,
and some people are skilled at imitating others, and some are able to make
their voice sound like a number of people, male and female, young and old,
and even speak different dialects and languages, so that the listener thinks
that several people are speaking when in fact it is only one person, and
because Islamic sharee‘ah is concerned with protecting people’s chastity and
honour, and takes more precautions than other religions with regard to
contracts and dealings, the Committee thinks that it is not appropriate,
with regard to marriage contracts, the proposal and acceptance, and
appointing proxies, to handle such matters over the phone. This is in order
to achieve the aims of sharee‘ah and protect people’s chastity and honour,
so that those who follow whims and desires and those that seek to deceive
and cheat people will not be able to toy with matters of marriage. And Allah
is the source of strength. 

End quote from Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah, 18/90 

3.    
Fatwa of Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may
Allah have mercy on him) 

Question: 

I want to get married to a girl and her father is in another
country; at present I cannot travel to meet him and do the marriage
contract, for financial or other reasons. I am currently in a foreign
country. Is it permissible for me to call her father so that he can say to
me, “I give you my daughter So and so in marriage,” and I can say, “I
accept.” The girl agrees to the marriage and there are two Muslim witnesses
who can listen to what I say and what he says, via the speakers on the
phone. Is this regarded as a legitimate marriage contract? 

Answer: 

The website put this question to Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn
‘Abdullah ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) and he replied that if what
is described is true (and there is no tampering involved), then it fulfils
the conditions of shar‘i marriage and the marriage contract is valid. See
the answer to question no. 2201.

And Allah knows best.