|
Conditions of
Marriage of the Mouwahidoun Druze Sect
The fundamental conditions of
marriage of the Mouwahidoun Druze sect are: (1) unity of faith; (2) consent to
marriage without coercion; (3) husband and wife are mentally or physically
mature and suffer none of the transmissible diseases; in addition to the
supplementary conditions: concluding the marriage contract at the competent
authority pursuant to the “Law of Regulating the Affairs of Al-Mouwahidoun Druze
Sect,” and the promulgation of marriage.
As to faith, God’s prophet (pbuh)
says,
“You ought to marry of the same religion; should you marry of different
religions, your marriage is threatened as a construction is when built on sea
waves.”
Whereas consent is fundamental
because coercion is a violation to man’s sanctity and freedom especially to
women in regard of an issue considered as a matter of life.
Maturity is inevitable for
achieving the target of marriage; however, mental maturity is insufficient,
physical maturity is a condition as well.
The Law of Personal Status of the
Mouwahidoune Druze Sect organized the issue of marriage in the following legal
articles:
First: With Respect to the
Eligibility of Marriage:
Article (1):
The fiancé is eligible of marriage
when he has completed the eighteenth year of age, whereas, the fiancée is
eligible of marriage when she has completed the seventeenth year of age.
Article (2):
(amended by law of July 2, 1959) Either the Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze sect
or the confessional judge could approve of the marriage of a male teenager who
has completed the age of sixteen and not reached the age of eighteen, in case it
has been proved medically that he is in good condition for that; provided that,
the permission granted by either Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze sect or the
confessional judge is subject to the permission granted by the teenager
custodian.
Article (3):
(the amended) Either the Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze sect or the
confessional judge could approve of the marriage of a female teenager who has
completed the age of fifteen and not reached the age of seventeen, in case it
has been proved medically that she is in good condition for that; provided that,
the permission granted by either Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze sect or the
confessional judge is subject to the permission granted by the teenager
custodian.
Article (5):
(the amended) None could approve of the marriage of a male who has not completed
the age of sixteen and the female who has not completed the age of fifteen.
Neither the insane nor the infected
by any of the transmissible diseases as the venereal diseases, leprosy,
pulmonary tuberculosis during the growth period, could be married.
Before granting the permission of
marriage, either the Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze sect or the confessional
judge shall seek proof that neither husband nor wife is insane or suffers any of
the transmissible diseases by asking them to present a medical certificate
issued by a medical examiner. The aforementioned certificate could be objected
at either the Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze sect or the confessional judge
where decision in this regard is subject to reconsideration.
Article (6):
(the amended) Shall a female adult whose age range between
Seventeen and twenty-one seek the
marriage of someone, either the Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze sect or the
confessional judge shall notify her
custodian; if the custodian did not object within a fifteen-day period
since the day of being notified, or in case his objection was estimated as
inappropriate, either the Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze sect or the
confessional judge approves of their marriage.
Article (7):
The custodian in marriage
is himself the blood relationship in order, provided that he is in charge
of custody. Primarily, neither the boy nor the insane of mad could be a
custodian of any.
Article (8):
(the amended) In case the seeker of marriage has no custodian or his custodian
does not enjoy the legal capacity to undertake such a responsibility, then
either Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze or the confessional judge, or whoever
acts in behalf of any of them, shall be the custodian.
Second: With Respect to the
Contract of Marriage:
Article (14):
The marriage contract shall be
concluded with the consent of both parties at the place of contract in the
presence of witnesses who could be of the fiancé’s or fiancée’s forefathers or
descendants provided that they are not less than four. The contract shall be
written and signed by husband and wife and the witnesses; however, if any of
husband or wife could not attend the place of marriage, a
representative in charge could sign for him or her by virtue of a written
power of attorney ratified by the mayor or
his substitute, provided that the value of dowry is mentioned in the
contract or is
determined by the
representative and that this
power of attorney is attached to the marriage contract.
Article (15):
The consent to marriage as well as
to engagement should be expressed clearly in words; however, in case of
muteness, a signal stands for an expression.
(It is common among the
Mouwahidoun Druze sect that the contract of marriage takes place in the assembly
of relatives, whereas the promulgation of marriage takes place by the moving of
wife to the house of her husband in the assembly of relatives, acquaintances and
friends).
Article (16):
(the amended) The contract of marriage could not be legal unless concluded by
either Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze or the confessional judge or whoever acts
in behalf of him in this respect.
Article (17):
(the amended) A marriage official is assigned at any region or town (as
necessary), by either Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze or the confessional judge,
to conclude the marriage yet after being offered a written permission in this
regard by either Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze or the confessional judge.
Article (18):
(the amended) Having organized the marriage contract, the marriage official
shall send it to either Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze or the confessional
judge to be ratified and registered. This contract is effective on the date of
being concluded.
Article (19):
(the amended) Either Sheikh Akl of Mouwahidoun Druze or the confessional judge
shall register these contracts in a special record sealed by any and numbered in
order. Then the contract is returned back to the concerned within a month or
more effective since the date of being kept at the religious court for
registration.
Issued by the bureau of
Mashyakhat Al-Akl
of the Mouwahidoun Druze sect
|