Reinterpretation of Islamic Law: The Practice of Sirri Marriage Among University Students In Indonesia

Amra Wandri; Ismail Ismail; Asasriwarni Asasriwarni

doi:10.30983/gic.v2i1.465

Authors

Amra Wandri State Islamic University Sjech M. Djamil Djambek, Bukittinggi, Indonesia
Ismail State Islamic University Sjech M. Djamil Djambek, Bukittinggi, Indonesia
Asasriwarni State Islamic University Imam Bonjol Padang, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30983/gic.v2i1.465

Keywords:

Islamic law, Sirri marriage, University student

Abstract

This research explores the phenomenon of "Sirri marriage" (unregistered Islamic
marriages) among university students in Indonesia, shedding light on the evolving dynamics of Islamic
law interpretation in contemporary society. The study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing
interviews, surveys, and document analysis to investigate the motivations, perceptions, and
consequences of students engaging in Sirri marriage. By examining the socio-cultural factors
influencing this practice, the research aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how Islamic
legal principles are reinterpreted and negotiated within the context of modern higher education. The
findings provide insights into the complexities surrounding Sirri marriage, addressing both the
challenges it poses to traditional legal frameworks and its potential impact on the broader discourse
on Islamic jurisprudence in Indonesia. This study contributes to the ongoing dialogue on the
adaptation of Islamic law to contemporary realities, emphasizing the need for nuanced perspectives
that account for the diverse ways in which individuals navigate their religious and social identities.

References

Aeni, A. N., Adireza, R., Putri, D. E. N., & Utari, R. (2022). Pemanfaatan E – Book Jenis WOW (World Of Wedding) Untuk Meningkatkan Pengetahuan Pernikahan Dalam Islam di Kalangan Mahasiswa. Al Qalam: Jurnal Ilmiah Keagamaan Dan Kemasyarakatan, 16(5), 1721. https://doi.org/10.35931/aq.v16i5.1153

Ahmed, F. (2018). First love letter to conflicting marriages: Exploration of ethnically diverse students’ developing understanding during their reading of Romeo and Juliet using schema theory. English in Education, 52(2), 105–119. https://doi.org/10.1080/04250494.2018.1452514

AjAfriyati, V., & Pasmawati, H. (2024). Keterampilan profesional konselor karier: Kompetensi esensial untuk bimbingan yang efektif. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 173–181. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.855

Ali Albara, B., & Bakhrul Ilmi, M. (2025). Transformation of digital masculinity and its implications for women’s rights in divorce under Islamic law. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 153–165. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1349

Al Hafiz, S. Y., Al Badi’ah, N. I., & Abdurrozaq, M. (2025). Artificial intelligence integration in UNCLOS implementation for resolving maritime disputes in South China Sea. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 37–50. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1326

Arifin, F., Fadly, D., Akhiar, H., Majasius, D., & Rahmadhani, S. (2025). Digital behaviorism among Muslim communities on social media from the perspective of Islamic law. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 89–102. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1360

’Azhim Al As’hal, A., & Fauzi, A. (2023). Integration of scientific literacy and Islamic law in the practice of in vitro fertilization (IVF). USRATY: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 3(1), 39–49. https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v3i1.8973

Azhari, D., & Asmuni, A. (2025). Gender equality in the political reform of Islamic family law in contemporary Muslim countries. USRATY: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 3(1), 87–99. https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v3i1.8721

Bimantara, G., Astuti Handayani, T., & Aqiel Alam, M. (2025). Legal analysis of Bitcoin ownership as a medium of exchange in the digital financial system. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 64–77. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1358

Candra, A., Efendi, F., Supardi, E., Nurlaila, N., Mulyawan, F., & Bulan Sari Siregar, L. (2025). Implementation of SEMA Number 01 Years 2023: Summons notice by registered mail in the Religious Court. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 51–63. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1354

DeLuca, C., Rickey, N., Putra, M. R. R., Hui, S. K. F., & Ngardi, V. (2024). The role of the hidden curriculum in the secondary education revolution in the United States. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 125–135. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.852

Demiral, F., Daipon, D., & Usqho, M. U. (2025). Ta’zir punishment for adultery in Indonesian and Malaysian law from a Maqashid Sharia perspective. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1316

Doni, M., & Hanani, S. (2025). The Compilation of Islamic Law as a socio-digital product in the reform of Islamic law in Indonesia. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 14–25. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1335

Emier Azka, M., Iskandar, M. Y., Azyzy Amyrul Hafidz Hamam, M., Syahnur, L., & Syahriani, F. (2025). The protection of human rights for children and women from the Houthi insurgency. USRATY: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 3(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v3i1.9669

Emier Azka, M., Syahriani, F., Amyrul Hafidz Hamam, M. A., Syahnur, L., & Fajri Mulyani, F. (2025). Revitalization of character education to overcome moral crisis among Islamic boarding school students in digital era. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 4(1), 15–28. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v4i1.1414

Farhan Akbar, M., & Khalid, K. (2025). Islamic political-legal analysis of the misuse of night entertainment licensing in Medan City. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 139–152. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1370

Halwaini, F. (2025). Women’s rights in the Qur’an: A semiotic analysis of the practice of family law in Indonesia. USRATY: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 3(1), 50–62. https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v3i1.9002

Inita Zahra, N., Miswardi, M., Fitri Gunawan, N., Doni, M., & Yusuf Iskandar, M. (2025). Transforming matrilineal traditions: The role of ulama in reforming Minangkabau customary inheritance law. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 113–126. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1373

Islami, F., & Fadli, A. (2024). Pengaruh lingkungan asrama dalam pembelajaran bahasa Arab di Pondok Pesantren Syech Ahmad Chatib. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 145–152. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.124

Kayati, N. F., Hidayatullah, S., & Jainuddin, J. (2025). Legal implementation in the digital era: Protection of child support rights after divorce in Indonesia. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1317

Lestari, A. P., Charles, C., & Ersisri, E. (2024). Meningkatkan hasil belajar SKI siswa kelas XI IPA dengan menggunakan metode mind mapping di MAN 3 Solok. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 153–163. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.90

Maulana, I., & Kartikasari, Y. (2025). Social transformation of Tompangan marriage in contemporary Madurese society through Islamic legal sociology perspective. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 78–88. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1359

Nuraini, N., Subagiya, B., & Basri, S. (2025). Islamic education teachers’ strategies in instilling character education at MTs Al-Ahsan Bogor. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 4(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v4i1.1409

Petriani, D. R. (2025). The religious roles of Muslimah influencers in the construction of contemporary families. USRATY: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 3(1), 27–38. https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v3i1.9006

Putri, R., Darmawati, G., & Rahayu, D. S. (2024). Pemanfaatan media pembelajaran vidio tutorial terhadap hasil belajar siswa kelas X di SMKN 1 Dua Koto. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 108–116. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.145

Rafiqa Izzati, N. (2025). Post-divorce mut’ah: The reinforcement of gender hierarchies in the practice of Religious Courts. USRATY: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 3(1), 75–86. https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v3i1.8844

Rahmi, R., Jayusman, J., Azizah, N., Efrinaldi, E., & Rahmawati, R. (2025). Legal dynamics of financial responsibility and marital property in marriage in Indonesia. USRATY: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 3(1), 14–26. https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v3i1.8948

Rina, N. (2023). Surrogacy practices in the legal dilemma of the reproductive technology era in Indonesia. USRATY: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 3(1), 63–74. https://doi.org/10.30983/usraty.v3i1.9085

Ruzayana, Z., Salsabila, U., Nuzul Hidayah, R., & Firsha, M. (2025). Judicial system digitalization: The constitutionality of the E-Court system in Southeast Asia. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 127–138. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1343

Salimah Nailulmuna, S., Mujib, A., Nuzul Hidayah, R., Mustika Ramadhani, F., & Ulum, B. (2025). Analyzing public complaints on BPJS health services through Platform X using a Maqashid Shari’ah perspective. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 103–112. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1338

Salman, N. F. B., Arvita, R. F., Inayati, N. L., & Apriantoro, M. S. (2024). Bibliometric analysis and literature review of Islamic religious education curriculum model. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 182–193. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.1307

Saputra, M. F. E., Miswardi, M., Ihsan, N., Fransiska, N., & Safitri, R. S. (2025). Reconstruction of Constitutional Court decision on presidential and vice presidential age limit from Siyasah Qadhaiyyah perspective. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 26–36. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1305

Saputri, R. M., Marzuki, M., & Li, X. (2024). Strengthening democratic characters through learning of Pancasila and citizenship education in the era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 194–204. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.1306

Sari, W. P., Melani, M., & Nurhayanis, N. (2024). Students’ difficulties in converting active sentences into passive sentences in simple tense at MAN 3 Solok students. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 164–172. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.131

Tabita, K., Khalid, K., & Mora Matondang, M. (2025). Legal implications of Constitutional Court Decision 168/PUU-XXI/2023 on employment termination within Islamic political jurisprudence. Hakamain: Journal of Sharia and Law Studies, 4(1), 166–176. https://doi.org/10.57255/hakamain.v4i1.1368

Wiangga, I. A., & Febriyanto, N. I. (2024). The impact of educators’ teaching styles on secondary school learners’ motivation in English. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 136–144. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.361

Wulandari, R., Dwi Amiza, I. P., & Annas, F. (2024). Pengembangan model inovasi pembelajaran berbasis research and development di SMP N 3 Pasaman Barat. Journal of Educational Management and Strategy, 3(2), 117–124. https://doi.org/10.57255/jemast.v3i02.602

jahidi, M. H., & Rahmadhani, A. L. (2022). NIKAH MUT’AH DALAM MASYARAKAT MUSLIM INDONESIA SERTA PANDANGAN HUKUM POSITIF TENTANG PELAKSANAANYA. Journal of Indonesian Comparative of Syari’ah Law, 5(2), 206–222. https://doi.org/10.21111/jicl.v5i2.8912

Akbar, A. (2020). Muslim reformist scholars’ arguments for democracy independent of religious justification. Critical Research on Religion, 8(3), 217–234. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050303220952849

Alfitri, A. (2020). Protecting Women from Domestic Violence: Islam, Family Law, and the State in Indonesia. Studia Islamika, 27(2), 273–307. https://doi.org/10.36712/sdi.v27i2.9408

Amirulkamar, S., Iskandar, I., Zuhrah, F., & Anzaikhan, M. (2023). Administration Reagent of Aceh Family Law Qanun: Siri Marriage Motives Towards the Legality of Polygyny. De Jure: Jurnal Hukum Dan Syar’iah, 15(1), 129–143. https://doi.org/10.18860/j-fsh.v15i1.21352

Arisukwu, O., Igbolekwu, C., Adebisi, T., & Akindele, F. (2021). Perception of domestic violence among rural women in Kuje. Heliyon, 7(2), e06303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06303

Barkah, Q., Cholidi, C., Rochmiyatun, S., Asmorowati, S., & Fernando, H. (2023). The Manipulation of Religion and The Legalization of Underage Marriages in Indonesia. Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Dan Hukum Islam, 7(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v7i1.13316

Cinelli, H. (2023). La sexualité au Bénin, parole aux jeunes et aux parents. Sages-Femmes, 22(5), 27–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sagf.2023.06.009

Darlis, S. (2022). MARRIAGE FOR COVERING DISGRACE: The Practice of Kawi’ Pura Tradition in the East Kolaka Muslim Society. Al-Ahwal: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Islam, 15(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.14421/ahwal.2022.15102

Dafizki, A. M., Rosman, E., & Busyro, B. (2023). Tradisi Budendo Pelaku Nikah Sumbang Perspektif Sosiologi Hukum Islam. USRATY: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 1(2), 140–147.

Ernawati, A. (2022). FENOMENA MENIKAH DI KALANGAN MAHASISWA (GAMBARAN PERSIAPAN MAHASISWA YANG MENIKAH). Jurnal Mercusuar: Bimbingan, Penyuluhan, Dan Konseling Islam, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.31332/jmrc.v1i1.4312

Farabi, A. (2020). The State Penghulu vs The Non-State Penghulu: The Validity and Implementing Authorities of Indonesian Marriage. Justicia Islamica, 17(2), 343–364. https://doi.org/10.21154/justicia.v17i2.2180

Fitria, M. (2023). Operasi Plastik dan Selaput Dara (Antara Kebutuhan dan Keinginan) dalam Perspektif Hukum Islam. USRATY: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 1(1), 12–22.

Grijns, M., & Horii, H. (2018). Child Marriage in a Village in West Java (Indonesia): Compromises between Legal Obligations and Religious Concerns. Asian Journal of Law and Society, 5(2), 453–466. https://doi.org/10.1017/als.2018.9

Ishaq, I., Badarussyamsi, B., Am, S., & Ridwan, M. (2023). Siri Marriage In The Review of Islamic Law, Positive Law, Human Rights And Maqashid Al-Syari’ah. Studi Multidisipliner: Jurnal Kajian Keislaman, 10(2), 97–114. https://doi.org/10.24952/multidisipliner.v10i2.9507

Jayusman, J., Efrinaldi, E., Shafra, S., Nasution, A. S., & Yarmunida, M. (2024). Mubadalah’s Perspective on Nusyuz in Islamic Law and Positive Law in Indonesia. RADEN INTAN: Proceedings on Family and Humanity, 1(1), 56–70.

Kim, J. H. (2023). Effect of gender sensitivity on attitudes toward marriage and childbirth among university students in South Korea. International Journal of ADVANCED AND APPLIED SCIENCES, 10(9), 150–157. https://doi.org/10.21833/ijaas.2023.09.017

Kurniawati Br Pinem, R., Rahmah Amini, N., & Zainah Nasution, I. (2021). Bimbingan Perkawinan Pranikah Bagi Usia Remaja Dalam Upaya Mencegah Pernikahan Anak. Maslahah: Jurnal Pengabdian Masyarakat, 2(3), 138–150. https://doi.org/10.56114/maslahah.v2i3.174

Lathifah, A., Ernawati, B., & Masduki, A. (2022). Problems with the Islamic legal system regarding child marriages in Indonesia during the covid-19 pandemic period. Ijtihad : Jurnal Wacana Hukum Islam Dan Kemanusiaan, 22(2), 155–176. https://doi.org/10.18326/ijtihad.v22i2.155-176

Li, X., Huan, J., Lin, L., & Hu, Y. (2023). Association of systemic inflammatory biomarkers with depression risk: Results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2018 analyses. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1097196. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1097196

Mahon, Á. (2015). Marriage and moral perfectionism in Siri Hustvedt and Stanley Cavell. Textual Practice, 29(4), 631–651. https://doi.org/10.1080/0950236X.2014.963142

Marston, K. (2024). #Relationshipgoals: Fantasies of the good life in young people’s digitally-networked peer cultures. Journal of Youth Studies, 27(2), 303–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2022.2124106

Mokhtari, S., Shariat, S. V., Ardebili, M. E., & Shalbafan, M. (2022). Iranian students’ attitudes toward premarital sex, marriage, and family in different college majors. Journal of American College Health, 70(4), 1186–1194. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1789150

Marni, T. S., Hanani, S., & Nofiardi, N. (2023). Modernisation of Islamic Family Law in Indonesia (Analysis of Counter Legal Draft- Compilation of Islamic Law in Inheritance Law). GIC Proceeding, 1, 317–325. https://doi.org/10.30983/gic.v1i1.131

Nisa, E. F. (2018). THE BUREAUCRATIZATION OF MUSLIM MARRIAGE IN INDONESIA. Journal of Law and Religion, 33(2), 291–309. https://doi.org/10.1017/jlr.2018.28

Prihatini, E. S. (2019). Women who win in Indonesia: The impact of age, experience, and list position. Women’s Studies International Forum, 72, 40–46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2018.10.003

Rahmawati, St. (2020). Mainstreaming of Gender Equality in Islamic Family Law: Opportunities and Challenges. Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Dan Hukum Islam, 4(2), 360. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v4i2.8110

Raj, A., Salazar, M., Jackson, E. C., Wyss, N., McClendon, K. A., Khanna, A., Belayneh, Y., & McDougal, L. (2019). Students and brides: A qualitative analysis of the relationship between girls’ education and early marriage in Ethiopia and India. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-6340-6

Rakhmawati, D. (2021). RELIGIUSITAS SEBAGAI FAKTOR PROTEKTIF PERILAKU SEKS PRA NIKAH DI KALANGAN MAHASISWA. Satya Widya, 36(1), 56–63. https://doi.org/10.24246/j.sw.2020.v36.i1.p56-63

Sekar Arumi, M., & Faradilla, N. (2023). Adolescent Religiosity and pre-marital sexual behavior: The mediating role of pre-marital sexual attitude. INSPIRA: Indonesian Journal of Psychological Research, 4(1), 54–61. https://doi.org/10.32505/inspira.v4i1.5877

Sieg, H., & Wang, Y. (2018). The impact of student debt on education, career, and marriage choices of female lawyers. European Economic Review, 109, 124–147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2017.05.009

Supraptiningsih, U. (2021). Pro and Cons Contestation on The Increase of Marriage Age in Indonesia. Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Dan Hukum Islam, 5(1), 232. https://doi.org/10.22373/sjhk.v5i1.9136

Supraptiningsih, U., & Hariyanto, E. (2019). PERKAWINAN ANAK: Pandangan Ulama dan Tokoh Masyarakat Pamekasan. Jurnal Harkat : Media Komunikasi Gender, 15(2), 96–105. https://doi.org/10.15408/harkat.v15i2.13466

Susanto, T., Rahmawati, I., Wuryaningsih, E. W., Saito, R., Syahrul, Kimura, R., Tsuda, A., Tabuchi, N., & Sugama, J. (2016). Prevalence of factors related to active reproductive health behavior: A cross-sectional study Indonesian adolescent. Epidemiology and Health, 38, e2016041. https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2016041

Susilawati, S., & Firma, T. B. (2023). Marginalisasi perempuan dalam pernikahan di kalangan mahasiswa Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Imam Bonjol Padang. Yinyang: Jurnal Studi Islam Gender Dan Anak, 18(1), 123–138. https://doi.org/10.24090/yinyang.v18i1.7050

Taufiq, M. (2019). Nikah Sirri Perspektif Maqashid Syariah. Al-Manhaj: Journal of Indonesian Islamic Family Law, 1(2), 114. https://doi.org/10.19105/al-manhaj.v1i2.3138

Wandri, A., Arsal, A., Rahmiati, R., & Imran, M. (2023). Cryptocurrency As A Means of Investment and Payment on Islamic Law Perspective. Al Hurriyah: Jurnal Hukum Islam, 8(1), 30–43.

Wieringa, S. E. (2015). Gender Harmony and the Happy Family: Islam, Gender and Sexuality in Post-Reformasi Indonesia. South East Asia Research, 23(1), 27–44. https://doi.org/10.5367/sear.2015.0244