Revisiting Kafa'ah in Islamic Marriage: Between Classical Legal Doctrine, Gender Equality, and Contemporary Muslim Societies

Abstract

The concept of kafa'ah (marital compatibility) has long been an important consideration in classical Islamic family law, particularly in determining the suitability of prospective spouses based on religion, lineage, social status, occupation, and economic capacity. However, some traditional interpretations have raised critical questions regarding their relevance to gender equality and marital justice in contemporary Muslim societies. This study aims to critically examine the relationship between classical Islamic doctrines of kafa'ah and gender equality and to explore its reinterpretation through maqāṣid al-sharī'ah and gender justice perspectives. Employing a qualitative approach through library research, this study uses comparative doctrinal legal analysis and critical conceptual analysis of classical Islamic jurisprudence, contemporary scholarly literature, and relevant Islamic family law frameworks. The analysis suggests that while kafa'ah was historically intended to promote marital stability and social harmony, certain status-based criteria may reinforce social hierarchies and unequal gender relations. Furthermore, a maqāṣid al-sharī'ah-oriented reinterpretation provides a normative foundation for shifting marital compatibility from inherited social distinctions toward mutual respect, moral integrity, equal dignity, and shared responsibility. This study proposes a gender-just framework of marital compatibility that preserves the ethical objectives of Islamic marriage while responding to contemporary social transformations. Its contribution lies in advancing Islamic family law discourse by integrating classical legal reasoning with substantive gender equality and contextual marital justice.