Marriage Dispensation and Family Resilience: A Case Study of the Bener Meriah Shariah Court, Aceh Province

Abstract

The regulation on marriage dispensation has encouraged the increase in early marriage in various regions in Indonesia, including in Bener Meriah, Aceh. Early marriage has a negative impact on family resilience as it raises problems leading to divorce. This is a normative legal study with a case study approach. Data collection was carried out employing a document study, namely Sharia Court Decisions and related literature. This study concludes a significant relationship between marriage dispensation, high underage marriages, and weak family resilience. In granting marriage dispensation, the Sharia Court judges consider legal and extra-legal grounds. The dispensation stipulation has met the legal requirement, although the legal reasonings are unconvincing. Furthermore, early marriage has an impact on increasing divorce rates due to issues such as psychological problems and reproductive readiness, as well as adverse effects caused by divorce. Therefore, concrete and strategic steps are needed with the involvement of various groups, including the government, ulama, and traditional leaders, who are able to promote family resilience in society.