From Legal Age to Legal Capacity: A Maqasid-Based Reformulation of Marriage Policy in Indonesia

Mufrod Teguh Mulyo; Munifah Munifah; Ahmad Rezy Meidina; Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh

doi:10.52496/mjhki.v4i2.49

Authors

Mufrod Teguh Mulyo Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surakarta Author
Munifah Munifah Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surakarta Author
Ahmad Rezy Meidina Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Al-Hikmah 2 Brebes, Indonesia Author
Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52496/mjhki.v4i2.49

Keywords:

Islamic Family Law, Marriage Readiness, Maqasid Al-Shari‘ah, Office Of Religious Affairs (ORA), Premarital Competency Assessment

Abstract

Early marriage remains a persistent challenge in Islamic family law and Indonesia’s legal policy, revealing a critical gap between formal minimum-age regulations and the absence of substantive instruments to assess marital readiness. Existing legal frameworks emphasize age compliance but inadequately address psychological, relational, economic, and health preparedness, particularly within administrative practices at the Office of Religious Affairs (ORA). This study fills the gap by integrating classical fiqh concepts ‘aql (intellect), rushd (maturity), and ahliyyah (legal capacity) with a contemporary, multidimensional assessment model of marriage readiness. This research employs a qualitative method with normative-juridical and socio-legal approaches, analyzing classical fiqh literature, Indonesian marriage regulations, and contemporary Islamic family policy. The findings demonstrate that Islamic jurisprudence substantively supports a multidimensional framework of readiness beyond formal age limits. The study establishes a premarital competency model comprising four domains: psychological-emotional maturity, religious understanding and family relations, basic economic readiness, and physical-reproductive health. Positioned as an administrative-substantive instrument rather than a determinant of marital validity, this model represents an institutional form of ijtihad within public services. Theoretically, it advances Maqasid al-Shari‘ah-based discourse on family protection; practically, it offers a policy-oriented framework to strengthen ORA’s role in promoting sustainable and resilient family formation.

Author Biographies

Mufrod Teguh Mulyo, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surakarta

Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surakarta, Indonesia
Munifah Munifah, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surakarta

Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surakarta, Indonesia
Ahmad Rezy Meidina, Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Al-Hikmah 2 Brebes, Indonesia

Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Al-Hikmah 2 Brebes, Indonesia
Nik Salida Suhaila Nik Saleh, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia

Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Malaysia

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