It is the girl's
right to make a decision concerning her marriage, and her father or
guardian is not permitted to override her objections or ignore her
wishes.
The Prophet (peace be on him) said, A woman who has been
previously married has more right concerning her person than her
guardian, and a virgin's consent must be asked about herself, her
consent being her silence. (Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
Ibn Majah and some other transmitters report the following hadith: A girl came to the
Prophet (peace be on him) and
informed him that her father had married her to her cousin against
her wishes, whereupon the Prophet (peace be on him) allowed her to
exercise her choice. She then said, 'I am reconciled to what my
father did but I wanted to make it known to women that fathers have
no say in this matter.'
The father of a
girl must not delay marriage of his daughter if a proposal is
received from a man of equal status who is of sound religion and
character. The Prophet (peace be on him) said, "Three
matters should not be delayed: salat when its time comes, burial
when the funeral has arrived, and the marriage of a single woman
when a man of equal status has proposed." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi.)
He further said, "When someone with whose religion and
character you are satisfied asks for your daughter in marriage,
accede to his request. If you do not do so there will be corruption
and great evil on the earth." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi.)
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