Is it permissible for a father to compel his daughter to marry someone she does not desire, and is this marriage considered Islamically valid, and if it takes place, would the relationship be considered fornication?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The ruling we adopt, which is the of Abu Hanifa, is that a guardian—even if he is a father or grandfather—does not have the right to compel a woman to marry a man she does not approve of. Nevertheless, both parties are advised: the woman to accept a man of good character and religious commitment, and the guardians not to compel their daughters to marry someone they do not approve of; because marriage requires understanding and affection, not coercion.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/71461
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 71461
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy