Permissibility of Refusing Marriage When a Legitimate Excuse Exists
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Question: What is the ruling in the Shari'ah regarding a girl who refuses marriage? She is a committed Muslim girl who guards her chastity; therefore, she does not see a need for marriage. In addition, she lives in a society that mocks religion and ridicules those who adhere to it; therefore, she is careful not to form a family in such a society, out of fear of deviation and loss.
Answer: It is prescribed for both the woman and the man to marry; for it contains the safeguarding of the private parts, lowering the gaze, and the multiplication of offspring and the Muslim community. And Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said in His Noble Book: [al-Nur:32], and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Mishkat al-Masabih 3080.
And he (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade monasticism and commanded marriage, saying:Sunan Abi Dawud 2050Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani).
So what is prescribed for young men and young women is to hasten to marriage, and to strive for marriage as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided and commanded, for the benefits mentioned previously.
And sitting without marriage entails a great danger. It is not befitting for a young man who is capable to delay marriage, and it is not befitting for a girl to delay marriage if the suitable person proposes to her.
But if she has an excuse that she does not like to reveal to people, she is the one who knows herself best; if she has no desire, or if she has a defect that prevents marriage; such as a blockage in the private parts, or something similar to that. The point is, she is the one who knows herself best if she has a legitimate excuse and does not desire marriage and does not want it, she is the one who knows herself best.
But as long as there is no impediment in her, the Sunnah and what is prescribed for her is to hasten to marriage, if the suitor is a suitable match in religion. As for if a suitable match is not available for her, she is excused if the wicked, known for corruption, leaving prayers, or intoxication, or other than this of sins, propose to her. These are not to be desired. And the disbeliever who leaves prayer is not permitted to marry a Muslim woman.
The point is: if a suitable match proposes to her, what is prescribed for her is to hasten and to welcome it, and not to remain a spinster without marriage; because of the danger in that, and because of the contradiction of the Sunnah in that.
As for if she has a legitimate excuse that she knows from herself, she is the one who knows herself best, or if a suitor suitable for her is not available, and the society is a corrupt society, and she does not find in it anyone suitable for her to marry, she is excused.
Answer: It is prescribed for both the woman and the man to marry; for it contains the safeguarding of the private parts, lowering the gaze, and the multiplication of offspring and the Muslim community. And Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) said in His Noble Book:
And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty
وَأَنكِحُوا الْأَيَامَى مِنكُمْ وَالصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَائِكُمْ إِن يَكُونُوا فُقَرَاء يُغْنِهِمُ اللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِYoung man, those of you who can support a wife should marry, for it keeps you from looking at strange women and preserves you from immorality; but those who cannot should devote themselves to fasting, for it is a means of suppressing sexual desire.
يا معشر الشباب من استطاع منكم الباءة فليتزوج؛ فإنه أغض للبصر وأحصن للفرج، ومن لم يستطع فعليه بالصوم؛ فإنه له وجاءAnd he (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade monasticism and commanded marriage, saying:
Marry women who are loving and very prolific, for I shall outnumber the peoples by you.
تزوجوا الودود الولود؛ فإني مكاثر بكم الأمم يوم القيامةSo what is prescribed for young men and young women is to hasten to marriage, and to strive for marriage as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) guided and commanded, for the benefits mentioned previously.
And sitting without marriage entails a great danger. It is not befitting for a young man who is capable to delay marriage, and it is not befitting for a girl to delay marriage if the suitable person proposes to her.
But if she has an excuse that she does not like to reveal to people, she is the one who knows herself best; if she has no desire, or if she has a defect that prevents marriage; such as a blockage in the private parts, or something similar to that. The point is, she is the one who knows herself best if she has a legitimate excuse and does not desire marriage and does not want it, she is the one who knows herself best.
But as long as there is no impediment in her, the Sunnah and what is prescribed for her is to hasten to marriage, if the suitor is a suitable match in religion. As for if a suitable match is not available for her, she is excused if the wicked, known for corruption, leaving prayers, or intoxication, or other than this of sins, propose to her. These are not to be desired. And the disbeliever who leaves prayer is not permitted to marry a Muslim woman.
The point is: if a suitable match proposes to her, what is prescribed for her is to hasten and to welcome it, and not to remain a spinster without marriage; because of the danger in that, and because of the contradiction of the Sunnah in that.
As for if she has a legitimate excuse that she knows from herself, she is the one who knows herself best, or if a suitor suitable for her is not available, and the society is a corrupt society, and she does not find in it anyone suitable for her to marry, she is excused.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.