The legal requirements for a Muslim marriage in India are governed by the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act, 1937, and the rules and customs of the Islamic faith. Here are the key legal requirements: Age: The bride and groom must have attained the age of puberty, which is presumed to be 15 years for boys and 9 years for girls. However, the parties can enter into a marriage contract at any age with the consent of their guardians. Consent: The marriage must be entered into by free consent of the parties. In other words, neither the bride nor the groom should be under duress, coercion or undue influence while entering into the marriage contract. Witnesses: Two witnesses are required to be present at the time of the marriage contract. The witnesses must be sane and adult Muslims who understand the nature of the contract. Mahr: Mahr is a mandatory payment that the groom has to make to the bride as a token of his love and commitment. It can be a sum of money or any other valuable asset, and it is specified in the marriage contract. Registration: In India, there is no legal requirement for the registration of Muslim marriages. However, some states have made it mandatory to register the marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, or the Muslim Marriage Act, 1954. Registration of marriage helps in proving the existence of the marriage and in settling disputes related to the marriage. It is important to note that Muslim personal law is a complex and evolving area, and there may be variations in its application and interpretation in different parts of India.
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