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Directory of Islamic marriage authorities by country
A list of religious bodies, courts, fatwa bodies and Islamic marriage registration offices for the countries discussed on this site, with official website domains only where verified.
- Identify the marriage, divorce and fatwa authorities in your country
- Know the order of referral: religious affairs office, Syariah Court, then the embassy
- Tell official institutions apart from unofficial websites offering marriage services
Key point: Marriage, divorce and court permission must go through the official institutions of the state or country concerned, not unofficial agents. Keep certified copies of every document and make sure a foreign marriage certificate has an official registration number.
- Find and save the official websites of your state's Islamic Religious Affairs Department and Syariah Court
- Check your marriage certificate: does it have an official registration number that can be verified?
- If you plan to marry abroad, contact the Malaysian embassy in that country first
Ke mana rakyat Malaysia patut pergi dahulu
Simpan salinan disahkan setiap dokumen; pastikan sijil luar negara ada nombor pendaftaran rasmi.
1How to use the directory
- This directory lists institution names and, where known with certainty, the official website domain. Phone numbers and addresses are not listed because they change often — get them from the official website.
- A blank (—) means the domain is not listed because it has not been verified, not that the institution has no website.
- For Malaysians' affairs abroad, start with the Malaysian Embassy or Consulate (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, kln.gov.my).
- Beware of unofficial websites offering marriage services — see the syndicate warning in cross-border marriage.
Recommended order for Malaysians:
- The district Islamic religious affairs office or the state Islamic Religious Affairs Department where you reside — for requirements, forms and permission to marry.
- The state Syariah Court — for polygyny permission, wali hakim (if the wali refuses) and validation of marriages abroad.
- The Malaysian Embassy or Consulate in the country of the contract — for authentication of documents and registration of marriages abroad.
- The religious and registration authorities in the spouse's country — for status documents, the wali's consent and the official marriage certificate.
Keep certified copies of every document, and make sure a foreign marriage certificate has an official registration number that the Malaysian authorities can verify.
2Malaysia
Islamic affairs are a state matter. Each state has its own Islamic Religious Council, Islamic Religious Affairs Department, Mufti's Department and Syariah Court; JAKIM and JKSM coordinate at federal level.
| Institution | Role | Official website |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) | Coordination of federal Islamic affairs; Muzakarah of the MKI Fatwa Committee | islam.gov.my |
| Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia (JKSM) | Coordination of Syariah Courts; the e-Syariah system | jksm.gov.my; esyariah.gov.my |
| State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (e.g. JAWI, JAIS) | Registration of marriage, divorce and rujuk; pre-marriage courses; prosecution | jawi.gov.my (FT); jais.gov.my (Selangor); other states — see the state government portal |
| State Syariah Court | Polygyny permission, validation of marriage, divorce, maintenance, custody | Through esyariah.gov.my or the state portal |
| State Mufti's Department (e.g. Federal Territories Mufti's Office) | State fatwas | muftiwp.gov.my (FT) |
| National Registration Department (JPN) | Birth registration and citizenship | jpn.gov.my |
| Immigration Department of Malaysia | Spouse passes and visas | imi.gov.my |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Wisma Putra) | Embassy/consulate; authentication of documents | kln.gov.my |
3Southeast Asia
| Negara | Religion / fatwa | Mahkamah | Marriage registration | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singapura | Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS); MUIS Fatwa Committee | Syariah Court Singapore | Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) | muis.gov.sg; syariahcourt.gov.sg; romm.gov.sg |
| Indonesia | Ministry of Religious Affairs; Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) | Religious Courts (Pengadilan Agama) (under Badilag, Supreme Court) | Religious Affairs Office (KUA) in every sub-district (kecamatan) | kemenag.go.id; badilag.mahkamahagung.go.id; mui.or.id |
| Brunei | Ministry of Religious Affairs; State Mufti's Department | Syariah Court (State Judiciary Department) | Registrar of Marriage, Divorce and Rujuk Office (KHEU) | kheu.gov.bn |
| Filipina | National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) | Shari'a District and Circuit Courts (Supreme Court) | Shari'a Circuit Registrar; Philippine Statistics Authority | ncmf.gov.ph; sc.judiciary.gov.ph; psa.gov.ph |
| Thailand | Chularajmontri (Shaikh al-Islam); Central Islamic Council of Thailand; provincial Islamic councils | Provincial courts with the Dato' Yutitham (Pattani, Narathiwat, Yala, Satun) | Registered imams / provincial Islamic councils; district offices (amphoe) for civil matters | — |
4South Asia
| Negara | Religion / fatwa | Mahkamah | Marriage registration | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Council of Islamic Ideology | Family Court; Federal Shariat Court | Nikah registrar under the local union council; Arbitration Council (MFLO 1961 s.6) | — |
| Bangladesh | Islamic Foundation Bangladesh | Family Court | Licensed nikah registrar (kazi); Arbitration Council | — |
| India | No statutory body; All India Muslim Personal Law Board (non-statutory) | Civil Family Court | Local kazi; state registration where required | — |
5The Middle East, GCC and Iran
| Negara | Religion / fatwa | Mahkamah | Marriage registration | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arab Saudi | Council of Senior Scholars; Grand Mufti | Personal Status Court | Licensed ma'dhun, Ministry of Justice | moj.gov.sa |
| UAE | UAE Fatwa Council; General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Awqaf | Federal and emirate courts (personal status divisions) | Court / notary | u.ae; awqaf.gov.ae |
| Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain | The respective Ministries of Awqaf/Islamic Affairs; Grand Mufti of Oman | Family / Syariah court | Court or ministry of justice | — |
| Mesir | Dar al-Ifta; al-Azhar | Family Court | Ma'dhun (Ministry of Justice) | dar-alifta.org; azhar.eg |
| Jordan | Dairat al-Ifta al-'Am | Syariah Court (Syariah Judiciary Department) | Mahkamah Syariah | aliftaa.jo |
| Maghribi | Supreme Scholarly Council | Family Justice Section, Subordinate Court | 'Adul (Shariah notary) after the judge's permission | — |
| Turki | Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı (no jurisdiction over marriage) | Mahkamah keluarga sivil | Municipal marriage office (civil only) | diyanet.gov.tr |
| Iran | Marja' taqlid | Family Court (Judiciary) | Registered marriage notary office | — |
6Africa
| Negara | Religion / fatwa | Mahkamah | Marriage registration | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Supreme council for Islamic affairs; state ulama councils | Syariah Courts and Syariah Court of Appeal (northern states) | Local government; Marriage Act registrar (civil) | — |
| Kenya | Ulama councils (non-statutory) | Kadi Court | Kadi / marriage registrar | judiciary.go.ke |
| Senegal | Sufi brotherhoods and ulama (non-statutory) | Mahkamah sivil | Civil status officer (monogamy/polygamy option) | — |
| Afrika Selatan | Muslim Judicial Council and other ulama bodies (non-statutory) | Mahkamah sivil | Department of Home Affairs (civil and customary) | dha.gov.za |
7Western countries (no statutory religious body)
In Western countries, only civil marriage is valid and polygyny is the crime of bigamy. The Islamic bodies that exist are voluntary and non-statutory; their decisions do not bind the courts.
| Negara | Religion / fatwa | Mahkamah | Marriage registration | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Islamic Sharia Council (non-statutory) | Mahkamah keluarga sivil | Register office or registered mosque | gov.uk; islamic-sharia.org |
| Australia | Australian National Imams Council (non-statutory) | Federal Circuit and Family Court | Registered celebrant | anic.org.au |
| United States & Canada | Fiqh councils and mosques (non-statutory) | State/territory courts | State/territory marriage licence | — |
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