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Should I reject a suitor who is of good character but is less than me in other aspects, or should I accept him for fear of not getting another opportunity, especially since I feel uncomfortable and wish to complete my postgraduate studies, taking into account the possibility of being afflicted by the evil eye as a reason for delayed marriage?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

It is advisable to rely on Allah and supplicate to Him in all matters, especially concerning marriage, and to entrust the matter to Him through Istikhara (prayer for guidance) so that He may choose what is most suitable. Islamic law guides one to choose a spouse who possesses good character and religious commitment, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If someone whose religious commitment and character you approve of comes to you seeking marriage, then marry him. If you do not do so, there will be tribulation on earth and widespread corruption." Al-Ghazali explained this by stating that whoever fears Allah will honor his wife, and even if he dislikes her, he will not wrong her. The command in the Hadith is a strong recommendation, not an obligation, so there is no harm in rejecting a suitor and searching for someone who combines religious commitment, good character, and other desired qualities, while consulting trustworthy individuals. One should be cautious of harboring ill thoughts about Muslims without clear evidence, as Allah Almighty says: "O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin."

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

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