Is one unable to speak Arabic obligated to learn the Arabic marriage formulas?

General Chapter

Al-Mughni

Book of Marriage

Book 35 · Issue 3 · Bab 1

Open in Qurani

Primary text

One who does not know Arabic is not obligated to learn the Arabic marriage formulas. This is reasoned because marriage is not an obligatory act (wajib), so the pillars of the contract do not require learning in Arabic, unlike the requirement to learn the Arabic Takbir (Allahu Akbar) in prayer, which is obligatory.

Supporting text

Abu Al-Khattab holds that one is obligated to learn the Arabic terms because anything for which Arabic is a condition necessitates learning it when capable, similar to the Takbir.