ÿWPCÒ+ …# VUNa %¯ 0 Nµ 0Í bÐ w@Ø 4 , 0D; †   m 1m& 0d“ 0J÷ 0TA 0^• 0hó 0r[ 0|Í 0†I 0Ï 1u_ 0dÔ B8 D3UU>ˆ 0@ÆB)DC/ AMrU*¿-éøEŽS’áksv~ÞvÓ\ 0/% 0о% 0 H& 0´è& 0Çœ' 0Ûc( 0ï>) AO-*Æ|* 0DB+ D/†+ Bµ+˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÈÚØÚÚØÈÚ0nLHÎ'í€"  Z 6Times New Roman Regular¼(&öy$¡¡Ó  ÓÙñÓ Ù(}(2g$¤¤Ý ƒöy!ÝÓ  ÓÙñÓ ÙÝ  ÝÒ°ÒÒ„°ÒÔ€XEVX¼¼Ôà ` àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó- ù- ÿ Õ  U  D Ye   Ó€ DÒ fx#3|x (#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóóaghili v. saadatnejadi - opinion Í  ' IB011C20IB011C2 .    ÿU‹ÿÀÀÀtuvwxyz#,37=CIQYag­­1.a.i.(1)(a)(i)1)a)(<1$´´Ô2Ô6.Ú  Ú0Ú  ÚÔ3  Ôà0  à2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)P ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d$$$$'ÿÿdxd< Œ 9p`(&Times New Roman("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò% Line 7 d....7Border 1dd€-/Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial #Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€,ÔÔ€,¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€1ÔÔ€1ÔÓ  Óò òÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€1XÔÌÌJune€11,€1997ÌÌCecil€W.€CrowsonÌAppellate€Court€ClerkÔ  Ôó ó îÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€,ÔÔ€,¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€,XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝIslamic€custom€entitles€the€prospective€wife€to€a€¢sadaq£€when€the€prospective€husbandÏproposes€marriage.€€The€¢sadaq£€is€a€postponed€dowry€that€protects€the€woman€in€the€event€of€aÏdivorce.€€òò¢Akileh£€v.€¢Elchahal£,óó€666€So.€2d€246,€247€(Fla.€Dist.€Ct.€App.€1996).€€Ì ;Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€,ÔÔ€,¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€,XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝAn€Islamic€blessing€is€a€formalized€ceremony€intended€to€hold€out€a€couple€as€beingÏmarried.Ì „Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€,ÔÔ€,¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€,XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝAn€imam€is€an€Islamic€religious€leader,€equivalent€to€a€priest€or€rabbi.€€òòSeeóó€òòIn€reÏMarriage€of€¢Dajani£,€óó251€Cal.€¢Rptr£.€871,€871„72€(Ct.€App.€1988).€€Ì ˆÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€,ÔÔ€,¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€,XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€final€order€refers€to€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„101€(1996),€rather€than€Tenn.€CodeÏAnn.€ðð€36„3„301.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„101€defines€the€prohibited€degrees€of€relationshipÏbetween€parties€which€is€not€at€issue€in€this€case.€€Thus,€it€seems€clear€that€the€reference€toÏTenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„101€is€€a€typographical€error€and€that€the€trial€court€intended€to€baseÏits€decision€on€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„301.Ì aÝ ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€,ÔÔ€,¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ$ÝÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÔ€,XÔà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝThe€statutes€governing€marriage€licenses€do€not€require€either€the€brideððs€or€theÏgroomððs€signature€on€the€marriage€license.ÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'hStyl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÒ  h HD: Geneva ÒÒ  h HD: Geneva Ò(gfi$µµà0  àÔ2(ÆÔ6.Ú  Ú0Ú  Ú.Ú  Ú0Ú  ÚÔ3  Ôà0` (#(#à(bÕä$¶¶à0  àà0` (#(#àÔ2ˆAÔÚ  ÚÚ  Ú.Ô3  Ôà0¸ ` (#` (#à(xâr$··à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àÔ2ˆAÔ(Ú  Ú0Ú  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0¸ (#¸ (#à(ŒU$¸¸à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àÔ2ˆAÔ(Ú  ÚaÚ  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0h(#(#à(Ÿ@Æ$¹¹à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àÔ2ˆAÔ(Ú  ÚÚ  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0Àh(#h(#à(³ýt$ººà0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àÔ2ˆAÔÚ  Ú0Ú  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0À(#À(#à(Çñû$»»à0  àà0` (#(#àà0¸ ` (#` (#àà0¸ (#¸ (#àà0h(#(#àà0Àh(#h(#àà0À(#À(#àÔ2ˆAÔÚ  ÚaÚ  Ú)Ô3  Ôà0p(#(#à€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€,ÔÔ€,¼ÔÓ  ÓÝ  Ý›Ñ Ü ÑÒ  ÒÒ ° ÒÒ  ÒÒ „ ÒÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ€ÑÑ7€Ï0¼¼ddÈ7ÑÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÞ ÞÌÌà@ àÔ€,„Ôò òIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALS€OF€TENNESSEE̜ـ€ÙßR€02/A1-j| 4` ç `€€@ÿRß›à@ àMIDDLE€SECTION€AT€NASHVILLEÌÌÔ€,¼ÔÌó óÌÌHOSSEIN€AGHILI,à àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àPlaintiff/Appellee,à àà àœ€€€€€€€€€€›à à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àDavidson€CircuitÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àNo.€95D„1401ÌVS.à àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à àAppeal€No.Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)à à01A01„9605„CV„00214ÌHAMIDEH€SABA€SAADATNEJADI,à à)Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà à)Ìà àDefendant/Appellant.à àà àà à)ÌÌÌÌÌà@ àAPPEAL€FROM€THE€CIRCUIT€COURT€FOR€DAVIDSON€COUNTYÌà@ àAT€NASHVILLE,€TENNESSEEÌÌà@ àTHE€HONORABLE€MURIEL€ROBINSON,€JUDGEÌÌÌòòÌFor€the€Plaintiff/Appelleeóó:à àà àà àà àòòFor€theÏDefendant/Appellantóó:ÌÌD.€Scott€Parsleyà àà àà àà àà àà àPeggy€D.€MathesÌBARRETT,€JOHNSTON€&€PARSLEYà àà àNashville,€TennesseeÌNashville,€TennesseeÌÌÌÌÌÌà@ àÔ€,„Ôò òREVERSED€AND€REMANDEDó óÌÌÔ€,¼ÔÌÌÌÌÌÌà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,ÏJUDGEÇÑ ° ÑÓ€ÓÔ€,„ÔÌà@ àò òòòO€P€I€N€I€O€Nóóó óÌÔ€,¼ÔÌà àThis€appeal€involves€the€validity€of€an€Islamic€marriage.€€Shortly€afterÏthe€marriage,€the€husband€filed€suit€in€the€Circuit€Court€for€Davidson€CountyÏseeking€a€divorce€or,€in€the€alternative,€an€annulment.€€After€the€wifeÏcounterclaimed€for€a€divorce,€the€husband€moved€for€a€summary€judgment€onÏhis€annulment€claim.€€The€trial€court€granted€the€summary€judgment,€findingÏthat€the€undisputed€evidence€demonstrated€that€the€officiant€was€not€qualifiedÏto€perform€the€marriage€under€Islamic€law€and€that€the€officiant€had€failed€toÏfile€the€marriage€license€within€the€legally€prescribed€time.€€The€wife€takesÏissue€on€this€appeal€with€the€trial€courtððs€conclusion€that€the€marriage€was€voidÏab€initio.€€We€have€determined€that€the€trial€court€erred€and,€therefore,Ïreverse€the€summary€judgment.ÌÌà@ àò òI.ó óÌÌà à¢Hossein£€¢Aghili£€and€¢Hamideh£€¢Saba£€¢Saadatnejadi£€are€Americans€of€IranianÏdescent.€€Mr.€¢Aghili£€is€forty„one€and€works€as€an€engineer€for€the€TennesseeÏDepartment€of€Transportation.€€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€is€twenty„six€years€old.€€Mr.Ï¢Aghili£€and€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€met€in€Tennessee€when€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€was€aÏstudent.€€They€were€engaged€in€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€on€October€12,Ï1994.ÌÌà àAfter€returning€to€Tennessee,€Mr.€¢Aghili£€negotiated€a€marriage€contractÏor€¢sadaq£€with€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£ððs€father€in€accordance€with€Islamic€custom.¢× ƒ3 ××  ×£€ÏIn€this€contract,€Mr.€¢Aghili£€agreed€that€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£ððs€dowry€would€beÏ1,400€Iranian€gold€coins€and€that€he€would€pay€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€10,000ÏIranian€gold€coins€if€he€violated€any€provision€of€the€contract.€€BecauseÏIslamic€law€permits€a€man€to€have€four€wives,€Mr.€¢Aghili£€also€agreed€that€heÏwould€not€marry€anyone€else€if€the€parties€ever€returned€to€live€in€Iran.ÌÌà àMr.€¢Aghili£€and€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€obtained€a€marriage€license€inÏRutherford€County€on€December€9,€1994.€€Mr.€¢Aghili£€requested€¢Ghalam£Ï¢Hossein£€¢Azam£€¢Tarahian£€to€perform€an€Islamic€blessing¢× ƒ4 ××  ×£€for€the€couple.€€OnÏDecember€17,€1994,€Mr.€¢Tarahian£€blessed€the€couple€in€the€presence€of€fourÏwitnesses€at€the€home€of€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£ððs€parents€in€Rutherford€County.€ÏFollowing€the€ceremony,€Mr.€¢Aghili£,€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£,€and€Mr.€¢Tarahian£Ïsigned€a€marriage€certificate€that€was€filed€with€the€mosque€in€Nashville.€€Mr.Ï¢Tarahian£€did€not,€however,€receive€or€sign€the€Tennessee€marriage€license.€ÏMr.€¢Aghili£€apparently€kept€this€document€because€it€was€one€of€the€documentsÏrequired€to€be€filed€with€the€Interest€Section€of€the€Islamic€Republic€of€Iran€inÏorder€to€make€an€official€record€of€the€marriage€in€Iran.ÌÌà àMr.€¢Aghili£€and€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€could€not€begin€living€together€asÏhusband€and€wife€following€the€blessing€because€Islamic€custom€required€themÏto€first€have€a€formal€wedding€reception.€€Their€formal€wedding€receptionÍtook€place€on€December€30,€1994€and€was€attended€by€one€hundred€guests.€ÏFollowing€the€reception,€Mr.€¢Aghili£€and€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€honeymooned€inÏ¢Gatlinburg£.€€Problems€arose€as€soon€as€the€parties€returned€to€Nashville.€€Mr.Ï¢Aghili£€informed€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€that€he€would€not€record€their€marriageÏlicense€unless€she€would€agree€to€sign€another€premarital€agreement€and€toÏrelinquish€her€dowry€and€earlier€marriage€contracts.€€He€also€asserted€thatÏtheir€marriage€was€invalid€because€Mr.€¢Tarahian£€did€not€have€the€authority€toÏperform€the€December€17,€1994,€Islamic€blessing.ÌÌà àThe€parties€separated€on€January€29,€1995.€€On€the€advice€of€anÏemployee€of€the€Rutherford€County€Clerk,€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€and€Mr.€¢Tarahian£Ïlater€completed€and€filed€another€marriage€license€form.€€Mr.€¢Tarahian£€signedÏthe€form€as€the€officiant€but€did€not€date€his€signature€or€indicate€on€the€formÏthat€he€was€an€imam.× ƒ5 ××  ×€€Apparently€someone€in€the€clerkððs€office€added€theÏdate€and€the€designation€before€filing€the€license€with€the€TennesseeÏDepartment€of€Health.€€Mr.€¢Aghili£€did€not€sign€this€marriage€license.ÌÌà àMr.€¢Aghili£€filed€suit€on€May€4,€1995,€seeking€a€divorce€or€anÏannulment,€and€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€counterclaimed€for€divorce.€€Mr.€¢Aghili£Ï¢voluntarily£€dismissed€his€complaint€and€responded€to€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£ððsÏcounterclaim€by€asserting€that€she€was€attempting€to€obtain€a€divorce€throughÏfraud€and€misrepresentation.€€Later,€Mr.¢€Aghili£€moved€for€a€summaryÏjudgment€asserting€that€the€marriage€was€invalid€because€Mr.€¢Tarahian£€wasÏnot€qualified€to€solemnize€marriages€and€because€the€marriage€license€had€notÏbeen€returned€to€the€Rutherford€County€Clerk€within€three€days€following€theÍDecember€17,€1994€ceremony.€€The€trial€court€apparently€agreed€with€Mr.Ï¢Aghili£€on€both€¢grounds£€and,€on€January€23,€1996,€entered€an€order€findingÏthat€the€partiesðð€marriage€was€void€ab€initio€and,€therefore,€that€Ms.Ï¢Saadatnejadi£ððs€complaint€for€divorce€should€be€dismissed€as€moot.ÌÌà@ àò òII.ó óÌÌà àThis€is€an€appeal€from€a€summary€judgment.€€Accordingly,€our€task€isÏto€review€the€record€to€determine€whether€the€requirements€for€granting€aÏsummary€judgment€have€been€met.€€òòPayne€v.€Breueróó,€891€S.W.2d€200,€201Ï(Tenn.€1994);€òòCowden€v.€¢Sovran£€Bank/Central€Southóó,€816€S.W.2d€741,€744Ï(Tenn.€1991).€€As€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.03€makes€clear,€a€summary€judgment€isÏappropriate€only€when€there€exists€no€material€factual€dispute€concerning€theÏclaim€or€defense€asserted€in€the€motion,€òòByrd€v.€Hallóó,€847€S.W.2d€208,€210Ï(Tenn.€1993),€and€when€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judgment€in€its€favorÏas€a€matter€of€law.€€òòAnderson€v.€Standard€Register€Co.óó,€857€S.W.2d€555,€559Ï(Tenn.€1993).ÌÌà àDecisions€to€grant€a€summary€judgment€do€not€enjoy€a€presumption€ofÏcorrectness€on€appeal.€€òòCarvell€v.€Bottomsóó,€900€S.W.2d€23,€26€(Tenn.€1995).€ÏA€reviewing€court€must€view€all€the€evidence€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€theÏnonmoving€party,€òòHaynes€v.€Hamilton€Countyóó,€883€S.W.2d€606,€613€(Tenn.Ï1994),€and€must€draw€all€reasonable€inferences€in€the€nonmoving€partyððsÏfavor.€€òòPittman€v.€Upjohn€Co.óó,€890€S.W.2d€425,€428€(Tenn.€1994).€€AÏsummary€judgment€should€be€affirmed€only€if€the€undisputed€facts€andÏconclusions€reasonably€drawn€from€the€facts€support€the€conclusion€that€theÍmoving€party€is€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.€€òòMcCall€v.€Wilderóó,Ï913€S.W.2d€150,€153€(Tenn.€1995);€òòCarvell€v.€Bottomsóó,€900€S.W.2d€at€26.ÌÌà@ àò òIII.ó óÌÌà àThe€summary€judgment€in€this€case€rests€on€two€grounds.€€First,€theÏtrial€court€determined€that€the€partiesðð€marriage€was€void€ab€initio€becauseÏMr.€¢Tarahian£€was€not€authorized€to€solemnize€marriages€pursuant€to€Tenn.ÏCode€Ann.€ðð€36„3„301€(1996).× ƒ6 ××  ×€€Second,€the€trial€court€concluded€that€theÏmarriage€was€void€because€the€marriage€license€was€not€filed€within€threeÏdays€following€the€ceremony€as€required€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„303Ï(1996).€€We€have€determined€that€Mr.€¢Aghili£€was€not€entitled€to€a€summaryÏjudgment€on€either€ground.€€ÌÌà@ àò òA.ó óÌà@ àòòò òThe€Solemnization€of€the€Marriageó óóóÌÌà àMr.€¢Aghili£€asserts€that€Mr.€¢Tarahian£€is€not€qualified€to€solemnizeÏmarriages€under€Tennessee€law.€€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„301(a)€provides,€inÏpart,€that€ð ð[¢a]ll£€regular€ministers€of€the€gospel€of€every€denomination,€andÏJewish€rabbis,€more€than€eighteen€(18)€years€of€age,€having€the€care€of€souls€.Ï.€.€may€solemnize€the€rite€of€matrimony.ðð€€Since€the€courts€look€to€the€tenetsÏof€the€particular€religion€to€determine€whether€a€particular€person€is€a€regularÍminister€having€care€of€souls,€Mr.€¢Aghili£€has€the€burden€of€proving€that€Mr.Ï¢Tarahian£€cannot€administer€Islamic€blessings€under€Islamic€law.ÌÌà àMr.€¢Tarahian£€testified€in€his€deposition€that€he€was€qualified€to€performÏIslamic€blessings€and€that€he€had€performed€a€number€of€these€blessings.€€Mr.Ï¢Aghili£€submitted€two€affidavits€to€contradict€Mr.€¢Tarahian£ððs€claims.€€In€theÏfirst€affidavit,€Mr.€¢Aghili£€himself€asserts€that€an€Islamic€ð ðblessing€is€notÏrecognized€in€the€State€of€Tennessee€as€a€legal€marriage.ðð€€This€is,€of€course,€aÏlegal€conclusion€that€Mr.€¢Aghili£€is€not€qualified€to€make.€€Thus,€Mr.€¢Aghili£ððsÏopinion€did€not€meet€the€requirements€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.05€and€shouldÏnot€have€been€considered.€€In€the€second€affidavit,€Mr.€¢Aghili£ððs€attorneyÏsimply€attaches€two€letters€purporting€to€demonstrate€that€Mr.€¢Tarahian£€wasÏnot€recognized€as€an€imam¢£€in€Nashvilleððs€Persian€community.€€This€affidavitÏlikewise€does€not€satisfy€the€requirements€in€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.05.€€TheÏletters€are€inadmissible€hearsay€and€contain€opinions€that€are€not€relevant€toÏMr.€¢Tarahian£ððs€qualifications€to€solemnize€marriages€under€Tenn.€Code€Ann.Ïðð€36„3„301.€€ÌÌà àIn€response€to€these€affidavits,€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€filed€the€affidavit€of€aÏprofessor€of€religion€at€Boston€University€who€is€an€expert€in€Islamic€Studies.€ÏThe€professor€explained:€ÌÓÓà8 àà8 àIn€contrast€to€Western€religious€teaching€and€practiceÏ(particularly€in€Christianity,€both€Catholic€andÏProtestant,€but€also€to€some€extent€Judaism)€IslamÏfrom€its€inception€to€the€present€has€consistentlyÏrejected€the€distinction€between€clergy€and€laity.€ÏIslamic€law€stipulates€quite€precisely€that€anyone€withÏthe€requisite€knowledge€of€Islamic€law€is€competentÏto€perform€religious€ceremonies,€including€marriage.€ÏOne€is€not€required€to€have€an€official€position€in€aÍreligious€institution€such€as€a€mosque€(¢masjid£)€inÏorder€to€be€qualified€to€perform€such€ceremonies.ÌÌà8 àà8 àà àI€understand€that€Mr.€¢Tarahian£€who€performedÏthe€marriage€ceremony€in€question€is€not€the€officialÏimam€of€the€local€mosque,€though€he€does€from€timeÏto€time€carry€out€the€duties€ordinarily€performed€byÏan€imam.€€From€the€vantage€point€of€IslamicÏjurisprudence,€the€question€of€his€right€to€bear€theÏtitle€imam€is€irrelevant.€€His€competence€beforeÏIslamic€law€to€perform€Muslim€ceremonies€isÏdetermined€solely€by€his€knowledge€of€that€legalÏcorpus.€€It€is€quite€clear€that€Mr.€¢Tarahian£€doesÏpossess€such€knowledge€and€that€he€is€recognized€byÏmembers€of€the€Muslim€community€as€possessionÏ[sic]€the€competence€to€perform€religious€(and€civil)Ïceremonies.ÌÌÓ€ÓViewing€the€competent€proof€in€the€light€most€favorable€to€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£,Ïit€is€undisputed€that€Mr.€¢Tarahian€possessed€the£€authority€to€administer€IslamicÏblessings.€€At€the€most,€the€record€contains€a€material€factual€dispute€on€thisÏissue.€€In€either€case,€the€trial€court€erred€when€it€granted€a€summaryÏjudgment€to€Mr.€¢Aghili£€on€this€ground.ÌÌà@ àò òB.ó óÌà@ àòòò òThe€Filing€of€the€Marriage€Licenseó óóóÌÌà àMr.€¢Aghili£€also€asserts€that€the€marriage€is€void€because€the€marriageÏlicense€was€not€filed€within€three€days€after€the€December€17,€1994€ceremony.€ÏThis€fact€is€undisputed€because€all€parties€agree€that€the€second€marriageÏlicense€was€not€filed€in€the€Rutherford€County€Clerkððs€office€until€February€8,Ï1995.€€Thus,€in€order€for€Mr.€¢Aghili£€to€prevail€on€this€ground,€he€mustÍdemonstrate€that€the€late€filing€of€a€marriage€license€invalidates€a€marriage€asÏa€matter€of€law.€€This€he€cannot€do.ÌÌà àThe€failure€of€an€officiant€to€return€the€marriage€license€to€the€issuingÏclerk€within€three€days€after€the€ceremony€does€not€invalidate€the€marriage.€ÏòòSeeóó€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„306€(1996).€€Thus,€if€Mr.€¢Tarahian£€couldÏsolemnize€marriages€under€Tennessee€law,€his€failure€to€return€the€completedÏmarriage€license€within€the€time€required€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„303Ïdoes€not€undermine€the€validity€of€the€marriage.€€ÌÌà àThe€purpose€of€the€filing€requirement€in€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„303€isÏto€assure€the€preservation€of€a€reliable,€accurate€record€of€a€marriage.€€TheÏfiling€of€the€second€marriage€license€on€February€8,€1995€satisfies€thisÏrequirement€as€long€as€it€contains€the€information€required€by€law.€€TheÏlicense€filed€on€February€8,€1995€appears€to€be€appropriate€on€its€face.€€It€isÏsigned€by€the€officiant€as€required€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„103(c)(1)Ï(1996),× ƒ7 ××  ×€and€it€contains€the€information€required€by€Tenn.€Code€Ann.€ðð€36„3„104(a)€(1996).€€Despite€Mr.€¢Aghili£ððs€assertions€that€the€February€8,€1995Ïlicense€was€invalid,€the€record€contains€no€competent€evidence€that€the€licenseÏwas€inadequate€or€that€it€was€rejected€by€either€the€clerk€or€the€Department€ofÏHealth.ÌÌà@ àò òIV.Ìó óÌà àTennessee€protects€the€institution€of€marriage€by€presuming€thatÏregularly€solemnized€marriages€are€valid.€€òòCole€v.€Partonóó,€172€Tenn.€8,€11„12,€108€S.W.2d€884,€885€(1937).€€Thus,€persons€challenging€a€marriage€mustÏprovide€cogent€and€convincing€evidence€that€the€marriage€is€invalid.€€òòHueyÏBros.€Lumber€Co.€v.€Andersonóó,€519€¢S.W.2d£€588,€590€(Tenn.€1975);€òòMoody€v.Ï¢T.H.£€Hays€&€Sons,€Inc.óó,€189€Tenn.€666,€675,€227€¢S.W.2d£€20,€24€(1950).€€Mr.Ï¢Aghili£€has€not€carried€his€burden€and,€therefore,€was€not€entitled€to€aÏjudgment€as€a€matter€of€law€that€his€marriage€to€Ms.€¢Saadatnejadi£€was€void€abÏinitio.ÌÌà àWe€reverse€the€final€judgment€and€remand€this€case€to€the€trial€courtÏfor€further€proceedings€consistent€with€this€opinion.€€We€also€tax€the€costs€ofÏthis€appeal€to€¢Hossein£€¢Aghili£€for€which€execution,€if€necessary,€may€issue.ÌÌÌÓÓà àà àà àà àà àà àà à____________________________Ìà àà àà àà àà àà àà àWILLIAM€C.€KOCH,€JR.,ÏJUDGEÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ________________________________ÌSAMUEL€L.€LEWIS,€JUDGE€ÌÌÌ________________________________ÌBEN€H.€¢CANTRELL£,€œJUDGE›œ›