What is the ruling on forcing one's daughter to marry a man she does not want?
ما حكم إجبار الولي ابنته على الزواج من رجل لا تريده؟
The Islamic marriage contract is built on mutual consent and respect. Forcing a woman into marriage directly contradicts the commands of the Prophet Muhammad pbuh and inevitably leads to marital instability.
يُبنى عقد الزواج في الإسلام على الرضا والاحترام المتبادل. إجبار المرأة على الزواج يتعارض مباشرة مع أوامر النبي ﷺ ويؤدي حتما إلى عدم الاستقرار الزوجي.
The Ruling and Prophetic Evidence | الحكم والأدلة النبوية
1. The Invalidity of Forced Marriage
The father has no right to force his daughter to marry a man she does not wish to marry. Doing so is a violation of what the Prophet pbuh has ordered, and it is the root cause of the problems and instability that might arise in married life.
1. بطلان الزواج بالإكراه
ليس للأب حق في أن يجبر المرأة على الزواج من رجل لا ترغب فيه لما في ذلك من مخالفة أمر النبي ﷺ، ولما ينشأ عنه من مشاكل وعدم استقرار في الحياة الزوجية.
2. The Requirement of Consent
Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet pbuh said: "A woman without a husband has more right to her person than her guardian, and a virgin's permission must be sought, her permission being her silence." Furthermore, Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet pbuh said: "A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her, and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission." The people asked, "O Messenger of Allah! How can we know her permission?" He said, "Her silence indicates her permission."
2. اشتراط الإذن والرضا
ففي صحيح مسلم والمسند والسنن عن ابن عباس أن النبي ﷺ قال: "الأيم أحق بنفسها من وليها. والبكر تستأذن في نفسها وإذنها صماتها". وفي الصحيحين والمسند عن أبى هريرة أن النبي ﷺ قال: "لا تنكح الأيم حتى تستأمر. ولا تنكـح البكر حتى تستأذن" قـالوا يا رسـول الله وكيف إذنها قال: "أن تسكت".
3. The Right to Annul
Ahmad, Abu Dawud, and Ibn Majah narrated that Ibn Abbas may Allah be pleased with them said: A virgin came to the Prophet pbuh and mentioned that her father had married her against her will, so the Prophet pbuh allowed her to exercise her choice to either accept or annul the marriage.
3. حق الفسخ عند الإجبار
وروى أحمد وأبو داود وابن ماجه عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن جارية بكرا أتت رسول الله ﷺ فذكرت أن أباها زوجها وهي كارهة، فخيرها النبي ﷺ.
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Can a father force his daughter to marry someone for her own good?
No. The Prophet pbuh explicitly forbade forcing a woman into marriage. Her explicit or implied consent is a mandatory condition for the marriage to be valid, regardless of the father's intentions.
What happens if a woman is forced into a marriage against her will?
As demonstrated by the direct actions of the Prophet pbuh, a woman forced into marriage has the full legal right to approach an Islamic judge or authority to have the marriage annulled.
Is it a sin to refuse a man my parents want me to marry?
No, it is not a sin. Refusing a suitor because you do not wish to marry him is your absolute Islamic right and is never considered disobedience or disrespect to your parents.