If a woman is forced into marriage, the marriage is defective.
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The Shaykh : ... another man proposed to her father, and she said: I do not want him. Both men are of good character and religion. Whose word should we take?
The student: ...
The Shaykh : The one she chose, meaning we take the woman's word, because the woman is the one who will marry and the one who will remain the wife of this man. If she says she chooses this second man, it is obligatory to accept her choice. If her father forces her to marry the second man, the marriage is defective, and the woman is not lawful to the husband, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade marrying a virgin until her permission is sought, and her father must seek her permission. If the father proceeds to marry her off while she is averse to it, this is not in accordance with the command of Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1718b Therefore, the marriage must be annulled, and the woman returns to her own freedom until Allah makes it easy for her to marry the one she wishes to marry.
As for forcing a woman to marry someone she does not want, this is forbidden, even if he is of good character and religion. But as I told you earlier, if she says: I do not want this husband, and she is inclined toward a person whose religion and character are not acceptable, she is not to be obeyed, even if she remains in that state until death.
This is what we wished to discuss regarding the poor and those in debt.
The student: ...
The Shaykh : The one she chose, meaning we take the woman's word, because the woman is the one who will marry and the one who will remain the wife of this man. If she says she chooses this second man, it is obligatory to accept her choice. If her father forces her to marry the second man, the marriage is defective, and the woman is not lawful to the husband, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade marrying a virgin until her permission is sought, and her father must seek her permission. If the father proceeds to marry her off while she is averse to it, this is not in accordance with the command of Allah and His Messenger. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
He who did any act for which there is no sanction from our behalf, that is to be rejected.
من عمل عملا ليس عليه أمرنا فهو ردAs for forcing a woman to marry someone she does not want, this is forbidden, even if he is of good character and religion. But as I told you earlier, if she says: I do not want this husband, and she is inclined toward a person whose religion and character are not acceptable, she is not to be obeyed, even if she remains in that state until death.
This is what we wished to discuss regarding the poor and those in debt.