Father Refusing to Marry Daughter to a Suitable Suitor
2-12-2025 | IslamWeb
Question:
AwrwbWhen a woman desires children and she has reached over 30 and her parents have never found her a spouse is it permissible for her to marry whoever she wishes granted that he is muslim and of good character?And forced marriage is not allowed in islam but is it permissible for parents to force marriage by circumstance? For example reject every suitor on some basis until you have no choice but accept their option or remain childless
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, is His slave and Messenger.
There is some ambiguity in the question, but in general we can inform you of the following:
First: It is not permissible for the parents, or either of them, to force a girl to marry someone she does not wish to marry, nor to pressure her by rejecting suitable suitors until she gives in to their choice. If her guardian marries her off without her consent, then she has the option to either uphold the marriage or annul it. This is the preponderant opinion, although there is a difference of opinion among the jurists regarding compelling an adult virgin to marry.
Second: A guardian should not refuse a suitor who is acceptable in his religious commitment and character. If a man who is satisfactory in his religion and character proposes to a woman and she accepts him, then she has the right to marry him, and it is not permissible for the guardian to prevent her from doing so. If her guardian refuses to marry her to such a man, she should try to persuade him and seek the mediation of righteous people. If he persists in refusing, then the more distant guardian may perform the marriage according to one opinion of the jurists; according to another opinion, the Muslim ruler or those who take his place—such as the institutions responsible for Muslim personal affairs in non-Muslim countries—may marry her off.
Allah knows best.