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Do physical birth defects, such as scoliosis, constitute a legitimate Shar’i reason for parents to prevent their son from marrying the woman he has chosen, especially given that she is religious, of good character, and intelligent?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

In marriage, one should choose a woman of religious commitment and good character, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "A woman is married for four things... so marry the one who is religious, and you will prosper." It is permissible for a man to marry a sick or disabled woman. A man should seek his parents' permission and consult them regarding marriage and strive to please them. If he desires a specific woman and his parents order him to leave her, he must obey them, unless he fears falling into haram (unlawful acts) if he does not marry her. Averting this harm takes precedence. If the parents insist on refusing, it is better to obey them due to their immense right and virtue.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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