Marriage in Thailand: Check for Authorised Marriage Solemnisers First
KOTA BHARU: Malaysian couples intending to marry abroad, particularly in southern Thailand, should first check the list of authorised marriage solemnisers to ensure their marriages are valid under Islamic law and do not lead to legal complications.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Marhamah Rosli said Malaysia has a list of authorised qadis, including those serving overseas, which couples can refer to before getting married.
According to her, the list also serves as a reference for the courts when couples seek to register their marriages in Malaysia.
She said marriages conducted without complying with legal requirements could result in various implications, including issues concerning the lineage status of children born from such marriages.
“My advice is that all couples must be honest and always comply with the law when arranging their marriages, especially as this could have consequences for their future children.
“We should not think only about the marriage itself but must also consider the lineage of children who may be born from that marriage, as the implications can be very significant,” she told reporters after attending the Kembara Mahabbah Madani Programme in Kedai Buloh here today.
Marhamah said Malaysians are strongly encouraged to marry within the country to avoid documentation and marriage verification issues that could arise when registering their marriages later.
She said her department had encountered numerous cases involving incomplete marriage documents and the use of unauthorised qadis, which had caused difficulties for the couples involved.
“We have encountered many such cases in Malaysia. Incomplete documentation, coupled with the involvement of unauthorised qadis, will certainly lead to legal implications and ultimately create problems for the couples themselves.
“Communication within families is also important in this matter. There must be discussion and wisdom in making decisions. Do not choose what seems convenient now only to face difficulties later. Think carefully and remember the religious rulings,” she said.
On October 30, Utusan Malaysia reported that Malaysian couples who married in southern Thailand through illegal syndicates risked engaging in sexual relations considered unlawful under Islamic law if their marriages were conducted by unauthorised qadis or marriage solemnisers.
President of the Yala Islamic Religious Council in Thailand, Abdul Basid Che Mat, said couples using such syndicates risk being deceived by fake marriage certificates, leading them to believe their marriages are valid when, in fact, the marriage solemnisation does not meet Islamic legal requirements.
“According to the regulations and religious rulings, if a marriage is not solemnised by an authorised marriage solemniser, it is invalid. The syndicate may also issue a marriage certificate, but it is fake,” he said.
UTUSAN MALAYSIA