Is a father entitled to refuse to marry his daughter to a man who is competent, religious, well-mannered, and wealthy, merely because his parents are not of the wife's madhhab, knowing that the husband is of her madhhab and that she desires him?
If the father refuses to marry his daughter to a young man of good character and religious commitment because his parents do not follow the Sunni madhhab, then his refusal is considered valid and he is not deemed to be preventing her marriage (a'dil). This is because marriage is a strong bond that unites two families, and the presence of the groom's parents not adhering to the Sunni madhhab might cause dishonor and conflict in the future. The father has the right to choose what preserves his reputation, just as Islamic law considers compatibility (kafa'ah) between spouses and grants guardians the right to refuse marriage to someone who is not compatible, because shame would then befall them all.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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