Child marriages unfortunately remain very rampant in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). It is a practice which some justify as being part of culture and traditional practices. Some would even dare to justify it by citing freedom of religion. However, as a child is not yet at the age of consent, child marriages are basically forced marriages which are doomed to be unsuccessful. Worse, these ‘marriages’ will eventually end up prejudicing the family, and more importantly, the child and her future.
From an Islamic Perspective, forced marriages are impermissible and not valid. They are haram. According to the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), the consent of a bride is a prerequisite to the validity of the marital contract.
In Sura 7, Verse 189 the Qur’an states that: “It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwella with her (in love)…”
In Sura 30, Verse 21 the Qur’an states that: “Among His Signs is this, that He created from you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between your (hearts): Verily in that are Signs for those who reflect.”
In line with the above excerts from the Qur’an, we can see that the equality of men and women is recognized and promoted by Islam in marriage. The objectives of marriages should be love, mercy, mutual respect, justice, emotional well-being and spiritual harmony. None of these objectives may be achieved in accordance with Islam in child marriages.
Even the Darul Ifta, or the Islamic Advisory Council of the BARMM has stated that the preferred age of marriage for women should be when they reach twenty (20) years old and for men when they reach twenty-one (21) years old.
Thus, there is no society, religion, or context which accepts and promotes child marriages. There is no justification for the same. Child marriages are human rights violations that we, collectively, must end. The more voices that are raised in this fight, the more traction can be created in order to create a better world for our children.
According to the UNICEF’s study about the situation analysis of Children in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the factors of Early Marriage or union include the following: large family sizes, cultural practice/norms, and poverty. Some parents would opt to marry off their children so they have less people to worry about in terms of division of resources in normal and emergency settings.
Forced Child marriage is a serious societal problem. Child brides face huge challenges such as restricted resources, limited knowledge and risks of experiencing dangerous complications in pregnancy and childbirth. They are also likelier to face Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) upon their persons as they entered the marriage already with an unequal standing. They are deprived of their fundamental rights to health, education and safety. With little access to education and economic opportunities, they and their families are more likely to live in poverty. Rather than serve as a solution, they end up trapped in a cycle of poverty and exploitation. What hurts more is that they are being exploited by their loved ones.
As part of the BARMM’s mandate of moral governance, and in accordance with the tenets and principles of Islam which have the aim of a just and humane society, it is our duty to end this abhorrent practice of Child Marriages and VAWC. Our children deserve to enjoy their childhood to the fullest and reach their full potential. They deserve to have this time to be children and not forced to grow up too soon.
