Judicial Reasoning in Marriage Dispensation Due to Premarital Pregnancy: A Maqāṣidī Critique of Jember Religious Court Decision

Studies on marriage dispensation in religious courts have predominantly focused on procedural-juridical aspects and case statistics, while the quality of judicial reasoning in constructing legal arguments remains insufficiently examined. This study aimed to analyze the structure of judicial reasoning in Jember Religious Court Decision Number 1743/Pdt.P/2025/PA.Jr concerning marriage dispensation due to premarital pregnancy, focusing on identifying prioritized values and neglected aspects in the judge's ijtihād. Employing normative legal research with a case study approach, this study examined the decision through the framework of maqāṣid al-sharīʿah, maṣlaḥah–mafsadah theory, and the best interest of the child principle. The findings revealed that judicial reasoning is corrective-formal in nature, prioritizing ḥifẓ al-nasl (nasab legitimation) and ḥifẓ al-dīn (restoring relations within sharīʿah boundaries), while ḥifẓ al-nafs and ḥifẓ al-ʿaql concerning physical, psychological, and educational welfare of the child remain inadequately integrated. Maṣlaḥah considerations are directed toward avoiding short-term mafsadah, whereas potential long-term mafsadah receives insufficient substantive attention. This study contributes to develope maqāṣidī criticism of judicial ijtihād practices and recommends strengthening the marriage dispensation paradigm as an ultimum remedium oriented toward substantive justice and comprehensive child protection.

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Kajian terhadap dispensasi kawin di pengadilan agama selama ini lebih berfokus pada aspek prosedural-yuridis dan statistik perkara, sementara kualitas penalaran hakim (judicial reasoning) dalam membangun argumentasi hukum belum banyak dianalisis secara kritis. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengkaji struktur penalaran hakim dalam Putusan Pengadilan Agama Jember Nomor 1743/Pdt.P/2025/PA.Jr tentang dispensasi kawin akibat kehamilan pranikah, dengan fokus pada identifikasi nilai-nilai yang diprioritaskan dan aspek-aspek yang terabaikan dalam ijtihad hakim. Menggunakan metode penelitian hukum normatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus, penelitian ini menganalisis putusan tersebut melalui kerangka maqāṣid al-sharīʿah, teori maṣlaḥah–mafsadah, dan prinsip best interest of the child. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penalaran hakim bersifat korektif-formal dengan prioritas pada ḥifẓ al-nasl (legitimasi nasab) dan ḥifẓ al-dīn (pengembalian relasi ke koridor syariat), sementara ḥifẓ al-nafs dan ḥifẓ al-ʿaql yang berkaitan dengan kesejahteraan fisik, psikologis, dan pendidikan anak belum terintegrasi secara memadai. Pertimbangan maṣlaḥah lebih diarahkan pada penghindaran mafsadah jangka pendek, sedangkan potensi mafsadah jangka panjang kurang mendapat perhatian substantif. Penelitian ini berkontribusi dalam mengembangkan kritik maqāṣidī terhadap praktik ijtihad hakim dan merekomendasikan penguatan paradigma dispensasi kawin sebagai ultimum remedium yang berorientasi pada keadilan substantif dan perlindungan anak secara komprehensif.