Rulings when a husband claims marriage ab initio and the wife admits it.
General Chapter
Al-Mughni
Book of Marriage
Primary text
If a husband claims he married a woman ab initio and she admits it, the marriage and mutual inheritance are established. This admission is generally accepted because she is a mature, sound-minded woman admitting a contract whose ruling binds her, similar to her admitting her guardian sold her slave girl before puberty, where her father's denial is not accepted because the right concerns another party. Likewise, if he claims he married her with a specific guardian and witnesses, and she admits it while the witnesses deny it, their denial is disregarded as testimony is only needed against denial.
Supporting text
An alternative view is that her admission is not accepted if her father denies the marriage, as the authority to marry rests with him, not her. If he claimed marriage but she died before confirming, he does not inherit from her. If he dies first and she confirms his claim, she inherits from him due to their mutual confirmation. Similarly, if she admits marriage but he dies before her confirmation, she does not inherit; if he confirms after her death, he inherits from her for the same reason.