Is it obligatory for me to obey my father in choosing whom I marry?

Question:
May Allah reward you. A Sudanese resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia says: There is a disagreement between me and my father regarding the matter of marriage. I want to choose my wife myself, but my father wants to choose for me, and from within the family. I reject his choice, so problems arose between us. My father's choice does not suit me, and as I see it, it will not make me happy in my social life. Because of the marriage, this problem became so severe that I cut off contact with him for five years. There is no other reason except the marriage. Is my disagreement with my father considered undutifulness to him in the matter of my marriage? And what do you advise me to do, may Allah reward you with good, and what do you advise my father?

Answer:
First, you should seek understanding and reconciliation with your father. If one of you were to yield his opinion in favor of the other’s to achieve benefit and harmony, that would be best. If this does not happen and the father insists on his opinion, you are not required to obey him in this matter. Rather, you must choose a righteous wife for yourself, as the matter concerns you. This is not considered undutifulness to your father, because this is part of your right. Yes.