The Necessity of Parents Taking the Initiative to Marry Off Their Sons and Daughters

You ask and say: Some fathers, when a suitor comes forward for their daughters, do not marry them off, on the pretext that the girl is still young, or because she does not know how to do household chores. Is there a word for such fathers?
Answer: Yes, and my advice to fathers and all guardians, whether brothers, brothers' sons, or uncles, is that we advise everyone to fear Allah regarding their wards, the daughters, sisters, brothers' daughters, and uncles' daughters. We advise everyone to fear Allah in their regard and to strive to marry them off as soon as a suitable suitor comes, even if she is not educated; she can learn from her husband as long as she is fit for marriage and can bear it. A girl of fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, or older who can bear marriage and is capable of it, it is obligatory to respond to the suitor by consulting her and obtaining her consent. She is consulted, and if she is a virgin and remains silent, that is sufficient. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: .
As for if she is a divorcee or widow—meaning she has been married before—then her explicit permission is required, where she says: Yes, there is no problem.
It is obligatory for the guardian to fear Allah and to strive to marry off the girl, for her remaining without a husband poses a danger to her. Therefore, it is not permissible to be lax in this matter. It is also obligatory for fathers to strive to marry off their sons if they are able to do so, because a boy remaining unmarried poses a great danger. Thus, it is obligatory for the father to marry him off and to exert himself in doing so. Even if the boy is lax, he must be compelled to marry and striven with until he marries, so that he is safe from trial, for marriage is from the mercy of Allah and by His grace one of the means of safety. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said in an authentic hadith: So he (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded the youth to marry and said: It is more modest for the gaze and more chaste for the private parts. This applies to the girl and the male, it applies to the youth of both males and females.
So it is obligatory for fathers and others to take care of marrying off their sons and brothers when they are fit for marriage and they are able to marry them off from their own wealth or the wealth of the grooms, such that they do not be lax in this. If his son is wealthy, he should strive with him until he marries. And if he is poor, he should marry him off from his own wealth if the guardian is wealthy. And so with the daughter, if a suitable suitor proposes, he marries her off. And if it is facilitated, he proposes for her himself, he seeks. This is good, that he seeks for her from the good young men, saying: O so-and-so! I have a daughter and I would like to marry her to you, or I have a sister. So if he agrees, praise be to Allah. 'Umar, who is the best of creation after the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and after al-Siddiq, 'Umar is the best of creation after the Prophet of Allah, after the prophets, and after al-Siddiq, proposed for his daughter Hafsah when she came out of the waiting period of her husband who died. He offered her to 'Uthman and he offered her to al-Siddiq because of their virtue. So 'Uthman excused himself and al-Siddiq remained silent because he knew that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had a desire for her. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married her, and she is Hafsah. So for a person to propose for his daughter or his sister is not a deficiency, but rather he is thanked and rewarded if he seeks for her a righteous husband. So when the righteous husband comes and proposes, it is obligatory to hasten to respond to him and not delay it, because the girl is such-and-such, or because he is poor, or his job is not big. No, provision is with Allah, provision is with Allah. It came in a hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: .
And especially in our present age, the age of trials and the age of deviation, it is obligatory to be cautious of laxity and it is obligatory to hasten to marry off the sons and daughters when suitable suitors propose for the daughters and a suitable suitor is facilitated, even if you propose for her yourself, even if you seek for her yourself. And so with your sons and your brothers and your brothers' sons, you strive to marry them off with words, consultation, and advice, and with money if they are poor, according to your capacity. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is agreed upon as authentic.
A great hadith, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So if you are in the need of your brother in marriage, or your sister, or your daughter, you are in great good, or your brother or your brother's son. And He, Mighty and Majestic, says: [Al-Ma'idah: 2] So cooperation in marriage is from cooperation in righteousness and piety. We ask Allah for everyone success and guidance.
The presenter: O Allah, amen. May Allah reward you with good.