Is Secret Marriage Allowed in Islam?
No, a secret marriage is not allowed in Islam.
A secret marriage is a marriage that is conducted only between the bride and the groom. However, when the marriage is conducted in the presence of witnesses, it is not called a secret marriage.
A marriage witnessed by at least two witnesses cannot be regarded as a secret marriage.
Religious View
The religious view is very clear. Islam prohibits a secret marriage and makes it essential to make the marriage public.
However, the question for understanding is how much publicized the marriage should be.
If the marriage is witnessed by at least two witnesses, then it cannot be called a secret marriage. It is already publicized.
Moreover, the reason for discouraging secret marriage in Islam is that, in the future, it may become difficult to prove that the parties are husband and wife.
If a marriage is conducted in the presence of at least two witnesses, then it cannot be called a secret marriage.
Nowadays, marriages are properly registered as compared to the past. In the past, there was no proper mechanism for the registration of marriages.
Therefore, the main objection under Islam regarding secret marriages is now overshadowed by the fact that marriages are properly registered. In case of any legal consequences, either the bride or the groom can produce the registered marriage documents as proof.
Legal View
Legally, a marriage conducted only between the husband and the wife is prohibited.
When a marriage is performed between the bride and the groom in the presence of at least two witnesses, it cannot be called a secret marriage.
These two witnesses are mandatory under Pakistani law for the registration of marriages.
Level of Secrecy
Whether a marriage can be called a secret marriage depends upon the level of secrecy.
If it is secret in the sense that it is only between the bride and the groom and no one else knows about it, then it is called a secret marriage, which is prohibited under Islam as well as Pakistani law.
However, if the marriage is conducted in the presence of at least two witnesses, then it cannot be claimed to be a secret marriage because it has been witnessed.
Obviously, a person cannot announce his marriage to the whole world. It is sufficient to remove the level of secrecy when the marriage is conducted in the presence of at least two witnesses.
Marriage Is Not Private in the Presence of Witnesses
A marriage cannot be legally or religiously regarded as a private or secret marriage when it is conducted between the bride and the groom in the presence of witnesses.
Whenever there are witnesses, especially in the case of a marriage, it cannot be called a private or secret marriage in Pakistan.
Better Instead of Doing Haram
A marriage conducted in the presence of witnesses is always better than engaging in any illegal or haram activity.
It is always legally advised to perform a marriage in the presence of witnesses and get it legally and religiously registered.
Court Marriage with Privacy
Court marriage with privacy in Pakistan is allowed, but it cannot be called a private or secret marriage because a court marriage is conducted in the presence of at least two witnesses.
When a marriage is conducted in the presence of two or more witnesses, it cannot be regarded as a private or secret marriage.
Online Marriage with Privacy
Online marriage with privacy in Pakistan can be conducted in the presence of two witnesses.
However, in the absence of two witnesses, it will be called a secret marriage, and a secret marriage is haram and illegal.
If an online marriage is conducted in the presence of two witnesses, then it is not a secret or private marriage.
Purpose of Discouraging Privacy
The reason and purpose for discouraging privacy in marriage under Islam is to avoid legal consequences in the future.
In the past, there was no registration system for marriages. Therefore, marriages were required to be publicly announced so that people knew that the parties were husband and wife.
For example, in the case of the death of either the husband or the wife, the surviving spouse could claim the assets and property as a legal heir.
However, nowadays marriages are legally registered in countries around the world.
Therefore, the registration of marriages has overshadowed the purpose and object of discouraging secret marriages under Islam.
Registration Removes the Objection of Islam
The registration of marriages and divorce in Pakistan removes the objection under Islam regarding secret marriages.
Therefore, if the marriage is legally registered, the parties are legally and religiously recognized as husband and wife.