gave shelter and aid—those are allies of one another.” Further on, He says:

“Those who disbelieve are allies of one another.”

And further on:

“And those who believed afterwards, emigrated, and strove alongside you are of you. Blood relatives have a greater claim upon one another.”

He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was asked:

A man had emancipated a slave woman. Another man asked him for her hand in marriage, whereupon he swore by divorce: “I will not give her to you.” Does divorce take effect if he appoints someone as his agent to give her in marriage to that man?

He answered:

Whenever he does what he swore not to do, whether personally or through his agent, he breaks his oath. However, if the suitor is a suitable match, a more distant guardian—such as the emancipator’s son, father, or brother—may give her in marriage to him. Alternatively, the judge may give her in marriage with her consent, without the emancipator’s permission. Since he is obstructing her marriage, his permission is not required, and he does not break his oath if she is married in any of these ways.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

May the judge prevent someone from concluding marriage contracts with a guardian and two upright witnesses?

He answered:

The judge may not prevent the person mentioned from acting as the guardian’s agent and concluding the marriage contract in accordance with Islamic law. However, a woman who has no guardian may only be given in marriage with the permission of the governing authority, namely, the judge. And Allah knows best.