PERKAHWINAN PASANGAN MUDA MENURUT PERSPEKTIF FIQH DAN UNDANG-UNDANG KELUARGA ISLAM DI MALAYSIA

Young Couple’s Marriage from the Perspective of Fiqh and Islamic Family Law in Malaysia

Abstract

Marriage trends among Muslims in Malaysia indicate that the age group of 25 to 29 years has recorded the highest rate over the past five years. However, this increase has also been accompanied by a surge in divorce rates, particularly among young couples under the age of 30 who are within the first five years of marriage. The divorce statistics among Muslims increased again by 7.3% compared to 2023 and the total number of divorce cases to 47,577 cases compared to the previous year. This is significant challenges to family stability. Against this backdrop, this study aims to analyze the concept of marriage among young couples from a fiqh perspective, with emphasis on age, marital duration, and the legal framework in Malaysia. The study adopts a qualitative approach through the analysis of primary and secondary documents, including classical works (turath), legal provisions, academic writings, and contemporary reports. The findings reveal that young couples face multidimensional challenges with direct implications for family well-being, particularly in terms of emotional stability, economic resilience, and interpersonal relationships. Accordingly, the study proposes the need to reassess the minimum marriage age and to strengthen post-marital support programs, especially during the critical first five years. This research contributes to current discourse by offering a more contextual understanding of young couples’ well-being within the framework of Islamic values and Malaysian legal provisions.