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The question

What is the ruling on a Muslim Arab woman marrying a non-Arab Muslim man who is not proficient in Arabic? And should a suitor be rejected, even if he is someone "whose religious commitment and character you approve," simply because he is non-Arab or from another country?

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Source: FtawySummarized from the full answer at Ftawy · imported Sep 2, 20261 min readAlso available in العربية
The answer

Compatibility in marriage is solely based on character and religious commitment. Other differences, such as wealth or lineage, are not considered, in accordance with the Almighty's saying: "Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you," and the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "If someone whose religion and character you approve of comes to you seeking marriage, then marry him." However, if the girl does not feel comfortable with a suitor who possesses good character and religious commitment, or if she fears potential problems due to differences in language or customs, there is no harm in her refusal, because the marriage contract must be built on harmony and reassurance. It is also permissible to consider additional matters such as the suitor's financial situation or temperament, as in the of Mu'awiyah and Abu Jahm's rejection, provided that these matters are not given precedence over religion and character.

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Where this answer came from
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Ftawy
Original fatwa ID
92564
Imported
Translation status
Source text, unreviewed
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