In short
The Home Office’s 2018 independent review found that, in the evidence it received, over 90% of people using Sharia councils were women seeking a divorce, and that many Muslim marriages are not civilly registered. It recommended changes to marriage law, awareness campaigns and a code of practice for Sharia councils. The Government decided that the state should not regulate Sharia councils.
Written by LawFiq. Islamic content reviewed by Shaykh Saad Al-Dhafiri; English law reviewed by Syed Ali Zakir, solicitor. Last reviewed 29 September 2026.
General information for England and Wales, not advice on your situation. The law and its application can change.
In 2018 the UK government published an independent review into how Sharia councils operate in England and Wales. Its findings speak directly to the problems families bring to us. Here is what it said, in plain English.
What the review was
The Home Office commissioned the independent review, and Professor Mona Siddiqui chaired it. It looked at Sharia councils: voluntary groups of scholars that many Muslims turn to for religious marriage and divorce. Crucially, the review confirmed a point that surprises many: Sharia councils have no legal status and no binding authority under English law.
What it found
The review made an observation that is central to our work: a significant number of Muslim couples never register their religious marriage as a civil marriage. Because of this, many people, especially women, are left without the legal protection a recognised marriage gives. Some cannot get a civil divorce at all.
The review found that it is most often women who are left exposed when faith and law are handled separately. That finding is exactly why we exist.
What it recommended
The review made three broad recommendations:
- Legislative change, so that Islamic marriages are civilly registered alongside the religious ceremony, bringing them into line with Christian and Jewish weddings
- Awareness campaigns, so Muslim couples understand that a religious-only marriage does not give them legal protection
- Regulation, proposing a code of practice for Sharia councils, so that everyone is treated fairly, consistently and without discrimination
The government accepted the need to raise awareness and considered marriage-law reform, but did not adopt a state-backed regulation scheme for councils. Marriage-law reform is now moving forward separately, and may in time allow legally binding Muslim ceremonies.
What it means for you
The review’s central message is simple: a nikah alone may not protect you under English law. If you have a religious-only marriage, it is worth understanding your position and, if needed, putting it right.
The review’s recommendations were aimed at religious bodies working within the law, alongside the courts, rather than as a separate system. That is the standard we work to, and help institutions reach: integration, not a parallel system.
How we help
We help families check where they stand and take the steps they choose. We also help councils, charities and advisers raise their standards, so they are fair, safe and in step with the law. If the review’s findings describe your situation, you can ask us to check your position.
Common questions
Do Sharia councils have legal power in the UK?
What was the main finding of the review?
Is the law changing as a result?
Sources
- The independent review into the application of sharia law in England and Wales (Home Office, 2018, Cm 9560)
- Written Ministerial Statement HLWS432, 1 February 2018
- Marriage Act 1949
Not sure where you stand?
We will check your position, in your religion and in English law, and explain your options.
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