What is the ruling regarding a wife whose lineage was misrepresented and found to be inferior?
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Marriage
Primary text
If a husband misrepresents his lineage and it is found to be inferior, and this misrepresentation breaches the required standard of Kafa'ah (equality in marriage), the wife possesses the right to annul the marriage contract (Khiyar). If she chooses to proceed with the marriage, her guardians retain the right to object to the contract. However, if the discovered lineage does not breach the standard of Kafa'ah, the wife has no right to annul the marriage because such a matter is not considered a valid prerequisite in marriage, analogous to a stipulated condition that proves contrary to the reality.
Supporting text
If the wife stipulated a condition other than lineage (such as knowledge or beauty) and it turns out to be contrary to the stipulation, she has no right to annul the marriage if the stipulated quality is not a condition for Kafa'ah. There is a reported view that the wife retains the right to annulment even if the lineage does not breach Kafa'ah, but the primary view is that the right exists only when Kafa'ah is compromised.