Is it permissible for an adult widow to marry a man without the knowledge of her family or his, with witnesses only from the husband's friends, out of fear of falling into sin?

The relationship between foreign men and women for the purpose of marriage (a love relationship) is not endorsed by Islamic law, and it is a door to temptation, thus it must be severed. For a woman's marriage to be valid, a guardian (wali) is required. A woman's marriage without a guardian is null and void according to the majority of scholars. It is not permissible for a woman to proceed with marriage without her guardian's knowledge and direct involvement in the contract. If the guardian prevents a woman from marrying a suitable match, she has the right to refer her case to a judge.