The Requirement of a Guardian (Walī) in Marriage and the Legal Capacity of Women: A Jurisprudential and Exegetical Critical Study in the Light of Tafsir Mazhari

نکاح کے وقت ولی کی شرط اور عورت کی قانونی اہلیت: تفسیر مظہری کی روشنی میں ایک فقہی و تفسیری تنقیدی مطالعہ

Abstract

This research paper explores the rulings regarding the legal authority (Wilayah) of women as guardians (Wali) in Islamic jurisprudence, with a specific focus on the interpretation presented in Tafsir Mazhari. The study investigates classical scholarly perspectives on the eligibility of women to act as guardians in various legal contexts such as marriage, custody, and financial matters. By analyzing relevant verses of the Qur'an and their exegesis in Tafsir Mazhari, this paper aims to clarify whether and to what extent women can assume roles of legal guardianship. The discussion also considers the broader socio-religious implications of these interpretations and highlights the nuanced views within the Islamic tradition. The paper contributes to contemporary debates on gender roles in Islamic law by offering a critical and scholarly review of a classical exegetical source.

Keywords: Wilayah, Woman as Wali, Tafsir Mazhari, Islamic Law, Gender Roles in Islam, Legal Guardianship, Female Eligibility, Marriage and Custody, Qur'anic Exegesis, Islamic Jurisprudence.