If the suitor has good religion and character but is lower in educational level than the woman he is courting, should he be married to her?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : He says that a suitor came forward, and he was, meaning, lower in level than the girl he was courting.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Meaning, his conduct and such was lower than the girl's. Bad.
The Shaykh : But there is nothing wrong with his character and his religion.
The questioner : Meaning, he is down-to-earth.
The Shaykh : Okay, there is no problem.
The questioner : It is up to your guardian to decide.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible. As long as his religion and character are good, there is nothing wrong with him. For example, suppose a man has only a primary school certificate, but he has a good share of religion and character, and she has a doctorate, and he is a man of religion and character. He says, "By Allah, I am not marrying this man who has only a primary school certificate when my daughter has a doctorate." This is not permissible.
The questioner : He is lower than her, meaning, for example, lower than her in educational level and such. What?
The Shaykh : I told you, he has only a primary school education. His handwriting is such that he can only read with difficulty, and she, praise be to Allah, has perfect handwriting and a doctorate. If someone comes to you whose religion and character you are pleased with.
The questioner : Yes, if she says, "What is my father's opinion on him?" This is the answer.
The Shaykh : No, if she says, "What is the reason?" Perhaps she will teach him the lesson, or perhaps she will benefit him. Yes, that is right.
The questioner : Sometimes a person is very complete, meaning, in every way.
The Shaykh : No, no, there is a defect in his mind. No, yes, that is right.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Meaning, his conduct and such was lower than the girl's. Bad.
The Shaykh : But there is nothing wrong with his character and his religion.
The questioner : Meaning, he is down-to-earth.
The Shaykh : Okay, there is no problem.
The questioner : It is up to your guardian to decide.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible. As long as his religion and character are good, there is nothing wrong with him. For example, suppose a man has only a primary school certificate, but he has a good share of religion and character, and she has a doctorate, and he is a man of religion and character. He says, "By Allah, I am not marrying this man who has only a primary school certificate when my daughter has a doctorate." This is not permissible.
The questioner : He is lower than her, meaning, for example, lower than her in educational level and such. What?
The Shaykh : I told you, he has only a primary school education. His handwriting is such that he can only read with difficulty, and she, praise be to Allah, has perfect handwriting and a doctorate. If someone comes to you whose religion and character you are pleased with.
The questioner : Yes, if she says, "What is my father's opinion on him?" This is the answer.
The Shaykh : No, if she says, "What is the reason?" Perhaps she will teach him the lesson, or perhaps she will benefit him. Yes, that is right.
The questioner : Sometimes a person is very complete, meaning, in every way.
The Shaykh : No, no, there is a defect in his mind. No, yes, that is right.
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 1960 - 4600 إذا كان الخاطب له دين وخلق لكن أقل في المستوى العلمي من المخطوبة هل يزوج؟ ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.