Defining the age of marriage in the MMDA of Sri Lanka: an Islamic perspective

Abstract

Defining the age of marriage has been a controversial issue in Sri Lanka because of the feminist’s lobby. However, Islam explicitly establishes maturity as the dividing line to define the majority and minority while the man-made laws worldwide consider diverse ages according to the traditional, cultural, ethnic, and geographical diversity. Thus, this study aims to analyse the discourses on defining the age of marriage in the MMDA (Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act) in the Islamic perspective. Subsequently, it explores the opinions of the classical and modern jurists and the discourses between the All-Ceylon Jamiyyathul Ulama and the women activists in Sri Lanka based on qualitative research methodology collecting data from library research. Consequently, this study endeavours to enlighten the Islamic perspective on defining the age of marriage to bridge gap between the jurists and the feminists.