The Ruling on Restricting Women

Question:
The restriction, O Shaykh, on women—may Allah forgive you—does one restrict women?

Answer:
It is not permissible to restrict them; this is forbidden. This is a matter of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. This is where he does not want to marry her off to anyone but her cousin, or so-and-so. This is not permissible. If a suitable suitor proposes to her, he should marry her off, even if he is far removed from her and not her cousin. This is a practice of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance. It is not permissible to restrict women to their paternal cousins. This is an abomination. It is not permissible for the father, nor for anyone other than the father, to restrict women. Rather, when the suitable man comes, they should marry her off absolutely. This is what is obligatory for them.