Islamic practice in Britain, working within English law
LawFiq is an independent organisation of Islamic scholars and legal professionals. Our aim is simple. Every Muslim marriage legally protected. Every woman aware of her rights. Every religious body in Britain working safely and fairly within the law. This is our plan to help achieve it. We have offered our expertise to government and will contribute to consultations.
Who we are
Our scholars’ panel works differently from many Sharia councils
We are not
- A Sharia council, a court or a tribunal
- A replacement for English law or the family courts
- A parallel system of any kind
We are
- Islamic scholars and English lawyers working together
- Committed to civil registration of every marriage
- Committed to women’s rights, safeguarding and equality law
- Ready to help government, the courts and public bodies
The need
A need recognised by government, and still unmet
of people using Sharia councils were women seeking an Islamic divorce, in the evidence heard by the Home Office’s 2018 independent review. Many had a nikah that was never civilly registered.
Sharia councils are estimated to operate in England and Wales. No one knows the exact number, and practice varies widely between them.
The review recommended a code of practice for Sharia councils. The state decided not to create one, and an earlier attempt by councils to organise themselves did not succeed.
The Government has consulted on reforming weddings law in England and Wales. Mosques and imams will need training and practical guidance to take part.
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; Government consultation on weddings law in England and Wales, 2026.
Our plan
Three commitments, following the 2018 review
- 1
Civil registration
Every marriage legally protected
We encourage and help every couple to register their marriage in law. We will train imams to act as officiants under the reformed weddings law, give mosques practical guidance on registration, and offer free tools that show couples where they stand.
Available now - 2
Understanding
Every woman aware of her rights
Plain-English guides and community programmes in English, Arabic and Urdu. They cover civil marriage, civil divorce, the mahr, inheritance and legal aid, and reach people through mosques, community groups and advice services.
Available now - 3
Standards
Every religious body working within the law
The LawFiq Standard: an independent code of practice for religious bodies that help Muslims with marriage and divorce. It comes with training, accreditation and independent oversight, so good practice is recognised and poor practice identified.
In development
The LawFiq Standard
How the Standard will work
The Standard follows the code of practice the 2018 review called for. It is voluntary and independent of the state, and it gives no religious body any legal power. It exists to protect the people who use those bodies.
- A published code. Clear, public requirements, written and reviewed together by our Islamic Board, our Academic Board and English lawyers.
- Training and competence. Training for panel members, imams and scholars in the English law and safeguarding duties that apply to their work, with continuing development each year.
- Accreditation and a public list. Organisations that meet the Standard are accredited and listed publicly, so families, courts and public bodies can see who follows it.
- Independent complaints and review. Anyone who uses an accredited organisation can complain to an independent reviewer.
- Monitoring and reporting. Regular checks of accredited organisations, and a public annual report on what we find.
- Separation of roles. Those who set and check the Standard are kept separate from those who deliver services under it.
What accredited organisations must do
- Religious bodies deal only with religious marriage and divorce; matters about children and money go to the family courts
- Safeguarding at every stage, with a named safeguarding lead and screening for abuse from the first contact
- No requirement to mediate or reconcile, and never where there has been abuse or fear
- No woman pressed to give up her mahr or make concessions to obtain a divorce
- Women serving on every panel that decides a divorce
- Every applicant told whether she also needs a civil divorce, and a religious divorce issued as a formality once a civil divorce is final
- Standard application forms, certificates and marriage contracts, including a clause giving the wife a right to divorce
- Published fees and a published process
- Clear, secure records and written reasons for every decision
- Interpreters where they are needed
- An independent route for complaints and review
English law always prevails, including the Equality Act 2010 and data protection law.
Working with government
How we can help
Policy advice
How proposals on marriage, divorce and religious bodies will work in practice for Muslims and the organisations that serve them.
Evidence
What we see in our work on nikah-only marriages, Islamic divorce, the mahr and inheritance, shared in a form officials can use.
Reform in practice
Training imams as officiants, guidance for mosques and registrars, and practical support as the weddings law reform develops.
Consultations
Considered responses to government and Law Commission consultations, written with both Islamic principles and English law in view.
Where we are
From today to a trusted standard
- Now
Serving families
Advice, safeguarding-first religious divorce, free tools and guides for families across England and Wales.
- Next
Publishing the Standard
Consult on the LawFiq Standard with scholars, lawyers, women’s organisations and officials, then publish it.
- Then
Training and accreditation
Train and accredit the first religious bodies and mosques, and publish our first annual report.
- Throughout
Supporting reform
Work with officials on the weddings law reform and on raising awareness of civil marriage and women’s rights.
Work marked “In development” is not yet available. Read our guide: A code of practice for Sharia councils: what good practice looks like.
Contact
Offering our expertise to government
We are in contact with officials about the reform of weddings law in England and Wales, and we have offered our help. Our team combines Islamic scholarship, academic research and English legal practice. We can explain how reform will affect Muslims and help it work on the ground.
We welcome enquiries from government departments, the courts, regulators, local authorities, researchers and women’s and community organisations. LawFiq is independent, and nothing on this page implies endorsement by any public body.
Contact us about policy and reform