Islamic Legal Thought: Marriage via Social Media and Online Transactions in The Perspective of The Four Imams
Authors
1. Hanafi Pelu , Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
2. Abdurrafiq , Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia
3. Wahyu Nurdiansyah , STIA LAN Makassar Polytechnic, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
4. Rosmiati , MAN SBB, Maluku, Indonesia
Publication Details
Journal: Vijoriya International Journal for Research & Innovation
ISSN: 3107-9806
Volume: 2 Issue: 1
Year: January – June 2026
Published on: 27 April, 2026
Pages: 51-60
DOI: https://doi.org/10.65595/vijri.v2i1.005
Abstract
Marriage in Islam is a contract (akad) that legalizes the husband-wife relationship. Today, technology enables people to marry at a distance via video conference. This raises a legal question: must the requirement of "one place" (ittihad al-majlis) be physically present, or can it be fulfilled through an internet connection? This study aims to analyze the views of the four schools of Islamic jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafiʼi, and Hanbali) regarding the legal validity of online marriage and the requirements for online transactions from the perspective of Islamic law. This study employs a qualitative descriptive approach. Data were collected in depth to explore the phenomena of marriage and digital transactions, then processed through thematic analysis of the pillars and conditions of marriage from classical literature to produce comprehensive conclusions. Findings reveal differences of opinion among scholars. The Hanafi and Hanbali schools tend to consider online marriage valid, interpreting the unity of the assembly as the continuity of the proceedings without interruption by other activities, rather than requiring a single physical space. The Hanafi school even draws an analogy with correspondence. In contrast, the Shafiʼi school considers online marriage invalid due to its strict emphasis on physical presence in one location (al-muayyanah) so that witnesses possess absolute certainty (haqqul yaqin). Regarding online transactions, all four schools generally agree on their validity, provided there is clarity of contract, specification of goods, and a transparent price agreement.
Keywords: Online Marriage, Ittihad al-Majlis, Islamic Law, Four Schools of Jurisprudence