The Guardianship of Islamic Ruler in the Marriage and Divorce of the Natural Fool and Insane from the Viewpoints of Imamiyyah and Sunni Jurisprudence

The Islamic ruler is considered to be the guardin of incapacitated people like fools and insanes and has the authority to assiagn another individual as a substitute for himself. Guardianship is a kind of custodianship established by the interdiction of the religious governor or the court with the aim of protecting them and controlling their affairs. This study, using a descriptive-analytical approach, examines the differences of opinion that exist among Imammiyah and Sunni Jurisprudents about the guardianship of the religious governor in the marriage and the divorce of the natural fool and insane.There are also disputes over the issue in four sunni sects. The opinion of authors of the present study is that the ruler has only guardianship over the marriage and the divorce on behalf of the insane in case the insane does not have any other guardian like father, paternal grandfather and their executors. But about the marriage and the divorce of the fool, it seems that the ruler has no guardianship because the major aim of marriage and divorce is not property so that we consider the fool incapacitated in these two cases. In all cases that the ruler has guardianship, it is necessary to observe the propriety and interest.