Interpretive Dynamics of Marriage Ratification in Indonesian Religious Court Practice
Keywords:
marriage confirmation, compilation of Islamic law, legal status, religious court, legal certaintyAbstract
This study analyzes the legal status of marriage confirmation (itsbat nikah) within the national legal system, its regulation through the Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI), and its relationship with applicable laws and regulations. A normative juridical approach is utilized through literature study of primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials. The results of the study indicate that itsbat nikah is regulated in the Religious Courts Act, which limits its scope to marriages occurring before 1974, whereas the KHI expands its scope through Article 7 paragraph (3) for marriages in the context of divorce, loss of marriage certificates, doubts regarding validity requirements, and marriages without impediments. The KHI, enacted via a Presidential Instruction, holds a dilemmatic legal status as it is not part of the hierarchy of laws and regulations yet continues to be used as a guideline by judges. Judicial practice demonstrates an expansion of itsbat nikah that potentially opens loopholes for legal circumvention. Regulatory harmonization and judicial prudence in applying itsbat nikah provisions are necessary.
References
Abdullah, Z., & P. A. Maharani. 2025. The Paradox of Legalization of Marriage (Itsbat Nikah) in the Paradox Indonesia: Legal Protection or Loophole. Sociological Jurisprudence Journal, 8(2), 171-181.
Aisyah, N. 2026. Women’s Education and Family Welfare: Empowerment as a Path to Social Change. Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 6(1), 225–246. https://sisijournals.id/index.php/sisi/article/view/215
Akbar, A. M. 2025. Marriage Guardianship Law for Women in Islamic Jurisprudence, KHI and Supreme Court Decisions (Analysis of Religious Court Judges’ Perceptions). Jurnal Hukum Khaira Ummah, 20(1), 75–99.
Al Haibah, M. F. F., Hardyansah, R., & Saktiawan, P. 2024. Implementation of the Juvenile Justice System in the Case of Child Murder Offenders: Restorative, Protection, and Social Reconstruction Principles. Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 4(2), 21–40.
Alfirdaus, S., M. Arsyad., H. Santoso., S. Alfirdaus., M. Arsyad., & H. Santoso. 2025. The Practice of Marriage ratification and its Implications for Family Status in the Study of Maslahah Mursalah. Al-Rasikh, 14(2), 235–253.
Aliyah, N. D., & Mardikaningsih, R. 2023. Legal Dynamics of Divorce, Transformation of Social Structure, and Protection of Women-Children in the Family Regulatory System. Journal of Social Science Studies, 3(1), 223–230.
Aliyah, N. D., Atmari, A., Darmawan, D., Rizky, M. C., & Farid, M. 2023. Revealing the Impact of Underage Marriage: How Is Household Welfare Adversely Affected?. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, 2(1), 1–5.
Aliyah, N. D., Safira, M. E., El-Yunusi, M. Y. M., Khayru, R. K., & Hardyansah, R. 2023. Legal Analysis of Marriage Contracts Through Video Calls in the Perspective of Marriage Law and Islamic Law in Indonesia. Legalis et Socialis Studiis, 1(1), 45–61.
Arifin, S., & Rojak, J. A. 2022. Social Media and Public Opinion Formation: Information Dissemination and Polarization. Journal of Social Science Studies, 2(1), 139–142.
Azis, A., & A. Mutakin. 2024. Itsbat Nikah in the Legality of Marriage Law in Indonesia: Maslahah Mursalah’s Perspective. IJoRIS: International Journal of Religious and Interdisciplinary Studies, 1(1), 1–20.
Darmawan, D. 2017. The Effects of The Big Five Personality on Job Performance. Management & Accounting Research Journal, 2(1), 36–42.
Darmawan, D. 2024. Distribution of Six Major Factors Enhancing Organizational Effectiveness. Journal of Distribution Science, 22(4), 47–58.
Eddine, B. A. S. & D. Darmawan. 2022. Social Construction of Work Life Balance in Cultural and Organizational Norms, Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 2(1), 213-234.
Evendi, W., Darmawan, D., & Waskito, S. 2023. Managing Dual Demands: Child Rearing in Families With Working Parents. Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 3(2), 397–420.
Evendi, W., Khayru, R. K., & Waskito, S. 2024. Resilience Capacity and Family Contribution in the Job Search Process. Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 4(2), 429–454.
Fajar, A. S. M., Darmawan, D., & El-Yunusi, M. Y. M. 2021. The Principle of the Child’s Best Interests in Custody and Post-Divorce Care. Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 1(1), 113–128.
Fajar, A. S. M., Fauzi, A., Darmawan, D., & El-Yunusi, M. Y. M. 2022. Child Status Outside Marriage and the Right to Education in Family Law. Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 2(2), 259–288.
Fajar, A. S. M., Zahid, R. A., & Fauzi, A. 2025. Post-Divorce Family Structure and Parenting Quality on Child Development. Journal of Social Science Studies, 5(2), 43–54. https://jos3journals.id/index.php/jos3/article/view/407
Firdaus, F., & F. Firdaus. 2025. Unregistered Marriages in Tanah Datar Regency: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions. Adhki: Journal of Islamic Family Law, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.37876/adhki.v6i2.139
Halizah, S. N., & Mardikaningsih, R. 2022. Accommodating Social Change in Sustainability Policy: Solutions for a Just and Relevant Society. Journal of Social Science Studies, 2(2), 299–304.
Hamid, S. A., & A. D. Salikin. 2025. Marriage ratification Over Siri Marriage in Indonesia. Jurnal Legisci, 3(1), 30-41.
Hariani, M., Aliyah, N. D., & Issalillah, F. 2021. Legal Guarantee of Children’s Rights in Education and Health. Journal of Social Science Studies, 1(2), 177–180.
Ichsanullah, I., & F. Santiago. 2022. Aspects of Legal Certainty, Justice and Usability in the Decisions of Judges in Civil Courts. In MIC 2021: Proceedings of the First Multidiscipline International Conference, MIC 2021, October 30 2021, Jakarta, Indonesia. European Alliance for Innovation, 1-6.
Is, M. F., M. Ediz., & D. Sarianto. 2024. Legislative Dynamics of Religious Courts and Compilation of Islamic Law in Indonesia Analysis of Busthanul Arifin’s Thoughts. Jurnal Elsyakhshi, 2(1), 8-14.
Issalillah, F., & Khayru, R. K. 2021. Social Perceptions of Domestic Violence and its Implications for the Mental Health and Recovery Process of Victims. Journal of Social Science Studies, 1(2), 125–130.
Jamilah, J., M. Puspita., E. Dimyati., T. Tetep., & P. Melati. 2019. People’s Unawareness of the Importance of Marriage Certificate. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Business, Law and Pedagogy, ICBLP 2019. European Alliance for Innovation (EAI), 1-5.
Krestianto, I. 2025. Optimization of Marriage Registration to Realize Legal Certainty and Civil Rights Protection. Jurnal Impresi Indonesia, 4(5), 1707–1716.
Kurniawan, Y., & Darmawan, D. 2021. The Adaptive Learning Effect on Individual and Collecting Learning. Journal of Social Science Studies, 1(1), 93–98.
Mardikaningsih, R., & Darmawan, D. 2023. Building Sustainability Policies Relevant to Local Cultural Values. Journal of Social Science Studies, 3(1), 127–132.
Masfufah, M., & Darmawan, D. 2023. Children's intelligence potential: Exploration through a spiritual approach. Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 3(1), 13–30.
Nasrulloh, M., M. Z. U. Ermawan., M. F. Ni’ami., Moh. Toriquddin., & K. Anam. 2026. Legal Protection for Women in Unregistered Polygamy: A Comparative Analysis of Polygamy Isbat. Muwazah: Jurnal Kajian Gender, 17(2), 241–260.
Nugraha, I. S., & A. Aziz. 2025. The Reorientation of Marriage Registration in the Compilation of Islamic Law: Shifting from Administrative Formality to Legal Obligation. AJIS : Academic Journal of Islamic Studies, 10(2), 399-426.
Oluwatoyin, F., & Mardikaningsih, R. 2022. Community adaptation strategy to climate change based on socio-cultural perspective. Journal of Social Science Studies, 2(1), 167–172.
Ronaldi, R., Zulpandri., S. Syaifullah., D. Asmaret., Julhadi, & H. Chehdimae. 2025. The Compilation of Islamic Law: Foundations, Structure, and Prospects for Legal Transformation. Solo International Collaboration and Publication of Social Sciences and Humanities, 3(03), 605–616.
Sajjapong, T., Darmawan, D., & Marsal, A. P. 2022. The Role of Social Stereotypes in Shaping Opportunities and Inequalities in Society: Their Impact on Education, Employment, and Intergroup Interactions. Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, 1(1), 44–49.
Sujono, I. 2022. Legal Review of Marriage for Divorced Women Outside the Religious Courts. International Journal of Islamic Thought and Humanities, 1(1), 1–16.
Sunmirat, I. R., A. Sanusi., Jamaluddin, & M. Nurwinda. 2024. The Problem of Regulation on Using Absolute Legitimacy in Issuing Population Document. Petita : Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Hukum dan Syariah, 9(2), 674-686.
Suwito, Dirgantara, F., Mujito, Hardyansah, R., & Saktiawan, P. 2022. Navigating Social Mobility Through Reintegration of Crime-Involved Individuals. Journal of Social Science Studies, 2(1), 157–160.
Suwito, S. 2025. Access to Justice and Wives’ Decisions to Claim Joint Property After Divorce. Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 5(1), 265–288.
Wazzan, R. K., T. Luth., H. N. Widhiyanti., & R. Sulistyarini. 2024. Itsbat Nikah: Legalizing Marriage Outside the Record in Indonesia. International Review of Social Sciences Research, 4(2), 29-45.
Zahid, R. A, A. S. M. Fajar, D. Darmawan, & M. Y. M. El-Yunusi. 2021. The Role of Religious Courts in Resolving Family Disputes Through Adjudication and Mediation, Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 1(2), 141-156.
Zahid, R. A., Darmawan, D., & Khayru, R. K. 2022. Mental Illness Stigma in Families and the Reach of Private Law Protection. Studi Ilmu Sosial Indonesia, 2(2), 207–230.
