Parents Forcing Daughter to Marry Cousin whom She Has Not even Seen

17-10-2001 | IslamWeb

Question:

My parents are forcing me to marry some one from the family (my cousin) who I do not know or have even seen. Due to the fact so that I can bring him over to a European country because I am British and if I marry someone from aboard and work the authorities will allow me to bring him over. Is this Haram or not?
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 sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

If your marriage to your cousin is concluded according to the Sharee’ah rulings and if it will result in a normal matrimonial life where you have the right of expenditure and the right to enjoy marital life, then there is no harm in accepting this marriage even if the aim behind this marriage includes helping your cousin get a job and a residence.
We would like to inform you, however, of the ruling concerning living in non-Muslim countries, which is forbidden except for a dire necessity.

For more benefit on travelling to or living in non-Muslim countries, please refer to Fataawa 86405, 377986, 369667, 89879, 81642, 88291 and 81464.

Allah knows best.

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