Is freedom a prerequisite for holding guardianship over marriage?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Marriage

Book 35 · Issue 5 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

Freedom is a condition for guardianship according to a group of scholars. A slave has no authority over himself, therefore he certainly has no authority over others.

Supporting text

The Hanafi school permits a slave to marry off a woman with her consent, based on the premise that a woman can contract her own marriage.