The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Tuesday rejected a bill banning marriage under the age of 18, calling it “un-Islamic” and incompatible with Sharia law.
The bill, recently passed by the National Assembly and endorsed by the Senate, aimed to outlaw child marriages in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), criminalising unions involving anyone under 18. The CII said the legislation’s provision to define underage marriage as rape and impose punishments contradicted Islamic teachings.
In its latest meeting, the council criticised the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government’s proposed “Child Marriage Prohibition Bill 2025,” arguing it was contrary to Sharia, expressing concern that the legislation had not been sent to the CII for review prior to its presentation in parliament.
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It concluded with a formal statement rejecting the federal bill, originally tabled by Pakistan Peoples Party lawmaker Sharmila Farooqui.
Additionally, the council expressed that while thalassemia testing before marriage could be encouraged, it should not be made mandatory. It emphasised the importance of keeping marriage procedures free from unnecessary complexities, in accordance with Islamic principles.
The council was referring to the Sindh Prevention and Control of Thalassemia Act 2013, which makes it mandatory for couples to undergo thalassemia testing before marriage. It also condemned societal pressure on families—particularly brides—to provide dowries, calling the practice un-Islamic.
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The council said women should be allowed to retain either their husband’s or parents’ domicile after marriage. It reiterated that, under Islamic law, a husband is not financially liable for his divorced wife following the completion of her Iddat (waiting period).
The CII also announced the formation of a committee to review and propose amendments to Section 7 of the “Muslim Family Laws Amendment Bill 2025,” following a request from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Separately, the council reviewed inquiries from the National Accountability Bureau on issues related to investments, housing schemes, and Islamic profit-sharing arrangements such as Mudarabah.
