The Impact of Delayed Marriage due to Education and Career on Female Lecturers in Banda Aceh: A Maʿālat al-Afʿāl Perspective

El-Usrah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/usrah/index ISSN: 2620 – 8075 ║ E-ISSN: 2620 – 8083 Vol. 8. No. 2. December 2025 DOI: 10.22373/ujhk.v8i2.31435 The Impact of Delayed Marriage due to Education and Career on Female Lecturers in Banda Aceh: A Maʿālat al-Afʿāl Perspective Nella Agustin,1 Mursyid Djawas,1 Muhammad Husnul,1 Nurjannah Ismail,1 Rizki Amalia1 1 Universitas Islam Negeri Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh, Indonesia Email: Abstract This study investigates the phenomenon of delayed marriage among female lecturers in Banda Aceh, specifically within the Syiah Kuala District, through the lens of maʿālat al-afʿāl (consideration of consequences). The rising national trend of unmarried youth, with Aceh ranking second highest, highlights the significance of this issue. Delays in marriage are primarily influenced by higher educational attainment and career development, although psychological and structural factors also contribute. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed qualitatively to identify the underlying factors contributing to delayed marriage. The findings suggest that postponing marriage for educational and professional purposes produces substantial positive outcomes, including enhanced emotional, psychological, and mental maturity, financial independence, and improved preparedness for motherhood. While negative consequences, such as psychological and social pressures, as well as potential reproductive health risks associated with prolonged stress were identified, these effects can be mitigated through adequate support systems. Overall, the resulting maṣlaḥah (benefit) appears to outweigh potential harms. From the perspective of maʿālat al-afʿāl, delayed marriage can therefore be understood as an action that generates greater long-term benefits, aligning with the objectives of the Islamic law (maqāṣid al-sharīʿah) in promoting maturity, well-being, and the overall welfare of individuals and families. Keywords: Delayed Marriage, Female Lecturers, Maʿālat Al-Afʿāl, Education, Career 1138 Nella Agustin, et.al, Education, Career and Delayed Marriage 1139 Abstrak Penelitian ini mengkaji fenomena penundaan pernikahan di kalangan dosen perempuan di Banda Aceh, khususnya di Kecamatan Syiah Kuala, melalui pendekatan perspektif maʿālat al-afʿāl. Peningkatan tren pemuda belum menikah secara nasional, dengan Aceh menempati posisi kedua tertinggi, menunjukkan relevansi masalah ini. Penundaan ini didominasi oleh faktor pendidikan tinggi dan karier, meskipun faktor psikologis dan struktural turut berkontribusi. Data ikumpulkan melalui teknik wawancara dan dianalisi mendalam untuk memperoleh faktor penundaan pernikahan. Hasil penelitian mengindikasikan bahwa penundaan pernikahan demi pendidikan dan karier membawa dampak positif signifikan, meliputi kematangan emosional, psikologis, dan mental yang lebih baik, kemandirian finansial, serta kesiapan menjadi ibu. Meskipun terdapat dampak negatif seperti tekanan psikologis dan sosial serta risiko kesehatan reproduksi akibat stres, dampak ini dapat diminimalisir dengan dukungan memadai, sehingga maslahat yang muncul lebih dominan. Dari perspektif maʿālat al-afʿāl, penundaan pernikahan dapat dipandang sebagai tindakan yang mendatangkan kemaslahatan lebih besar dalam jangka panjang, sesuai dengan tujuan syariat untuk mencapai kematangan dan kesejahteraan individu serta keluarga. Kata Kunci: Penundaan Pernikahan, Dosen Perempuan, Maʿālat al-Afʿāl, Pendidikan, Karier Introduction The phenomenon of delayed marriage among highly educated women has become an increasing concern in the Islamic family law discourse as well as in contemporary social studies. Data from Indonesia’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) indicate a steady rise in the proportion of unmarried youth, increasing from 64.56% in 2022 to 68.29% in 2023 and reaching 69.75% in 2024. Conversely, the number of married individuals declined significantly during the same period.1 This trend is also evident in the Aceh Province, which ranked second nationally in terms of the percentage of unmarried youth, at 75.94% in 2023.2 Aceh was surpassed only by DKI Jakarta, which recorded 80%, and was followed by North Sumatra in third place with 75.43%.3 One of the primary factors contributing to this delay is the expansion of educational access and opportunities for women, leading many to prioritize 1 Karuniati Dewi Ramadani,Ramadani, Karuniati Dewi. Statistik Pemuda Indonesia. Jakarta: Badan Pusat Statistik, Statistik Pemuda Indonesia (Jakarta: Badan Pusat Statistik, 2024), p. 16. 2 Gandi Liyorba Indra, M. Yasin Al Arif, and Abdul Qodir Zaelani, “The Ideal Age For Marriage in The Compilation of Islamic Law (KHI) and Psychology,” Al-’Adalah 20, no. 1 (2023), p. 1. 3 Ramadani, Ramadani, Karuniati Dewi. Statistik Pemuda Indonesia. Jakarta: Badan Pusat Statistik, Statistik Pemuda Indonesia. https://jurnal.ar-raniry.ac.id/index.php/usrah/index Vol. 8 No. 2, December 2025 Nella Agustin, et.al, Education, Career and Delayed Marriage 1140 education and career development before considering marriage.4 This decision is often grounded in rational considerations, including the desire for economic and psychological independence, as well as greater emotional maturity prior to marriage. The phenomenon is particularly prevalent in urban areas, where women’s participation in education and the labor market is relatively high.5 Although education and career advancement are frequently cited as the dominant factors, social realities indicate that decisions to delay marriage are not determined solely by rational considerations.6 Many women postpone marriage for psychological and structural reasons, such as the absence of a suitable partner, traumatic experiences in past relationships,7 and social pressure surrounding idealized standards of marriage.8 Nevertheless, a national survey conducted by Populix in 2023 reported that 57% of women delayed marriage to focus on their careers. This was followed by other reasons, including personal interests and family considerations (53%), while not having found the right partner ranked third at 44%. The remaining respondents reported choosing to live independently or feeling no immediate need to marry.9 These findings reinforce the argument that, although marriage delay is a multidimensional phenomenon, education and career considerations remain the primary factors.10 On the one hand, this trend may be interpreted as a positive outcome of human resource development, particularly as more women gain access to higher education and actively participate in the workforce. On the other hand, delayed 4 Nurlaelah Abbas et al., “Theological Impact of Marriage for Religious Minority Families in Bali and Makassar,” Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga Dan Hukum Islam 9, no. 1 (2025); Sri Astuti A. Samad and Munawwarah Munawwarah, “Adat Pernikahan Dan Nilai-Nilai Islami Dalam Masyarakat Aceh Menurut Hukum Islam,” El-USRAH: Jurnal Hukum (...truncated)