What are the complete Shariah rulings on watta satta (shighar)? Its definition, its types, the evidences for its prohibition, the validity of the marriage, the ruling on the mahr, and if such a marriage takes place, what is its Shariah solution?

1. Definition: The literal meaning of shighar is to raise something up high or to empty it. In technical terms: two families agree that one will marry its daughter/sister/girl under its care to the other's son on the condition that the other will marry his daughter/sister to the first one's son, and no Shariah mahr is fixed in either marriage — one girl's marriage itself becomes the price and exchange for the other.

2. Evidences for the prohibition: It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade shighar (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim); another narration: "There is no shighar in Islam" (Sahih Muslim). The reason: the girls' right to mahr is lost, and marriage becomes a means of trade and exchange.

3. Types: (a) Watta satta without mahr — clearly and unanimously haram. (b) With mahr, but one marriage is a condition for the other — according to the majority it is disliked and disapproved (consent and freedom are affected); if both marriages are completely independent, the mahr is fixed and there is no condition, then merely two matches between two families is not watta satta — it is permissible.

4. If the marriage takes place: (First position — the majority: Hanafis, Malikis, Shafi'is) the marriage is defective (fasid); if seclusion (khalwah) has taken place, mahr al-mithl (the mahr of her equals) becomes obligatory; separate them, and if they wish, they may marry again with a new marriage with a Shariah mahr. (Second position — some Hanbalis) the marriage is concluded, the condition is void; the woman will receive mahr al-mithl, the marriage remains, and the condition must be ended.

5. The way to avoid it: every marriage completely independent of the other; every girl's mahr fixed separately; the girl's free consent; if there are two matches, separate decisions, the approval of one not dependent on the other.

Summary: Watta satta is haram in Islam — it is against the sanctity of marriage and the rights of the woman.

Translated from the original Urdu fatwa.