The Ruling on Preventing Marriage and the Duty of Daughters Toward Their Deceased Mother

Question:
This questioner, who used the letter "Alif" as a code for her name from Riyadh, says: My father rejected the marriage proposal, even though all of us, my sisters and I, have completed postgraduate studies and our salaries are substantial. We are now forty, thirty-nine, and thirty-eight years old. Our father has passed away, and we are truly grieving over the loss of our marriage. What is our duty toward our father, may he be rewarded?

Answer:
Your father erred in this, and this is a form of the forbidden prevention of marriage (uẓl), where a guardian prevents his ward from marrying a suitable suitor she desires. In such a case, his guardianship over her is dropped and transfers to the next guardian in line. The judge should be consulted regarding this matter. So, your father erred in this, but you must forgive him and seek forgiveness for him. May Allah forgive him. Yes.