Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterHer Parents Are Forcing Her to Marry a Man She Does Not Like
Question
Asalam. I'm 27 years old and a divorcee. I need to know more about marriage related fatwa. My parents are forcing me to marry a person, but I don't like it. Im interested in a proposal, but parents rejected it just because of financial background. And they are abusing me with worse words.. I'm in deep pain.. I'm keeping silent, because I'm afraid that their anger towards me cause the anger of Allah. What should I do? Is there no rights for me? What should I do with my marriage?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
It is impermissible for your Wali (guardian) to force you to marry a person whom you do not like. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah 
that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "'A previously married woman shall not be given in marriage until she gives her consent, and a virgin shall not be given in marriage except after her permission is sought.' People asked, 'How can she give permission?' He said: 'Her silence [indicates her permission].'" [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Moreover, it was narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas that a virgin girl came to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, complaining that her father married her off to a man against her will. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave her the option either to rescind the marriage or to continue in it. [Abu Daawood and Ibn Maajah, Al-Albaani: Saheeh (authentic)]
However, if this man is an eligible suitor, meaning a religiously committed man with good moral character, and you believe that your marriage to him would most likely last, and you accept to marry him out of dutifulness towards your father, then perhaps Allah, The Exalted, would bless your marriage to him. If you refuse to marry him, you have the right to do so, as mentioned above.
Regarding the man whom you wish to marry, if he is an eligible suitor, your Wali has no right to prevent you from marrying him. The Islamic Sharee‘ah commands accepting the marriage proposal of the religiously committed and well-mannered suitor. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "If there comes to you a suitor with whose religious commitment and moral character you are pleased, marry off (your daughter or female relative under your care) to him, or else there will be Fitnah (turmoil) in the land and widespread corruption." [At-Tirmithi]
You should try to persuade your Wali to agree to marry you off to this man. If he is persuaded, all praise be to Allah; otherwise, you have the right to take the matter to the authorities responsible for looking into Muslims’ issues.
For more benefit on the limits of obedience to parents, please refer to Fataawa 271255 and 123554.
Also, for more benefit that obedience to parents is obligatory while marrying a specific man is not so, please refer to Fataawa 88591, 102215, and 134498.
Allah Knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
