Some people believe that the marriage contract must be recited in Arabic, while others believe it can be done in Persian. In this article, we will examine the ruling of various religious authorities regarding reading the marriage contract in Persian.
According to the Community Service of SaeedNews, quoting from SedaOnline, permanent or temporary marriage in Islam is established through a verbal contract that must include both an offer and acceptance in speech, along with the fulfillment of its religious conditions. This contract must be formulated in such a way that the intended meaning is clear and accepted by the people involved in the conversation. Therefore, the marriage contract must be performed in a way that both parties have complete consent and awareness.
Imam Khomeini's (RA) Opinion on Reading the Marriage Contract in Persian: In his book Tahrir al-Wasila, Volume 2, page 220, Imam Khomeini (RA) says:
"و الاحوط لزوماً کونه فیهما باللفظ العربی فلا یجزی غیره من سائر اللغات الا مع العجز عنه و لو بتوکیل الغیر و ان کان الاقوی عدم وجوب توکیل الغیر و یجوز بغیر العربی مع العجز عنه و عند ذلک لا باس بایقاعه بغیره لکن یکون مفادها مفاد اللفظ العربی بحیث تعد ترجمته."
According to this opinion, it is obligatory as a precaution for the marriage contract to be recited in Arabic. If both parties are unable to recite it in Arabic, they may recite it in Persian or any other language, but they must convey the correct meaning of the Arabic version. This means they must use phrases that are a precise translation and equivalent of the Arabic formula.
The Leader’s Opinion on Reading the Marriage Contract in Persian: Ayatollah Khamenei says:
"If they cannot read it correctly in Arabic themselves, they can perform the contract in Persian or any other language, but they must use words in that language that convey the meaning of 'Zawajt' (I have married) and 'Qabilt' (I have accepted), and it is not necessary to appoint a proxy."
This ruling shows that if someone cannot recite the marriage contract in Arabic, they can perform it in Persian or any other language, as long as the meaning of "Zawajt" (I married) and "Qabilt" (I accept) is conveyed. There is no need to appoint someone else to read the contract.
Other Religious Authorities’ Opinions on Reading the Marriage Contract in Persian: Ayatollahs Sistani, Safi Golpaygani, Makarem Shirazi, Nouri Hamadani, and Wahid: Like Ayatollah Khamenei, these scholars permit the recitation of the marriage contract in Persian or any other language if one cannot read it in Arabic, as long as the correct meaning of the contract is preserved in that language.
Ayatollah Bahjat: He also believes that it is permissible to recite the marriage contract in Persian or any other language, and even if the person can read Arabic, there is no need to recite it in Arabic.
Ayatollah Tabrizi and Fadl Lankarani: These two authorities believe that if a person cannot read the contract in Arabic and it is possible to appoint a proxy, the person should appoint one. However, if appointing a proxy is not possible, they may recite the contract in Persian or any other language, and they must convey the meaning of "Zawajt" and "Qabilt" in that language.
In conclusion, according to the various religious authorities, if a person or individuals are unable to recite the marriage contract in Arabic, they can recite it in Persian or any other language, as long as the words they use convey the correct meaning and equivalent of the Arabic version. In such cases, there is no need to appoint a third party to recite the contract in Arabic unless specific conditions require it.
