Question: Assalaam Alaikum, I want to know the Islamic ruling on forced marriage in Islam. Is this permissible in Islam, as we see some parents forcing their daughters to maariage specific set of people based on wealth or position?
Answer: Alhamdulillah, we give praise to Allah and may Allah’s blessings and salutations be upon our Prophet (ﷺ). Dear brothers and sisters, in my years of counseling, few questions carry as much pain and confusion as this one: Is forced marriage allowed in Islam?
Often, when this question reaches my ears, it does not come as a casual academic inquiry. It comes with tears. It comes from young men and mostly young ladies who feel trapped between obedience to Allah and pressure from people they love, especially their parents. Their excuse is that they are “protecting” their child and want the best for her, yet unknowingly stepping beyond the limits Allah has set.
Marriage is to be by choice, and the conditions of a valid marriage have to be fulfilled. So today, let us remove culture, fear, and social expectations. And let us place this issue where it belongs, under the light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
What Is Forced Marriage in Islam? Understanding the Difference Between Advice and Coercion
A forced marriage is any marriage in which one or both parties are compelled to marry without their free and willing consent. “If a woman is forced into marriage by her guardian, and she is not pleased with it, then the marriage is invalid. This is not a minor issue, it destroys the very validity of the contract (marriage). Te only thing that a parent can do is to advise their daughter or son.
Difference between Advice (Nasīhah ) vs. Compulsion ( Ijbār)
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Nasihah (Sincere Advice & Guidance): This is the right and duty of the guardian (Wali). It is based on care, wisdom, and looking out for the best interests of the one being advised. It involves presenting reasons, discussing character, looking at religious commitment, and offering a sound opinion. The ultimate choice, however, remains with the woman.
The Prophet (ﷺ) himself gave nasihah, but never compelled. This is the Islamic model: persuasive, kind, and rooted in love, not fear. Then how can forced marriage in Islam be a permissible act?
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Ijbār (Compulsion): This is where choice is removed. It is the use of authority to impose a decision. In marriage, Ijbār is explicitly forbidden for a woman who has reached puberty and is of sound mind. The evidence is paramount and leaves no room for ambiguity.
The Prophet ﷺ made it clear that forced marriage in Islam is absolutely haram (not permissible). Every Nikah must be founded upon mutual willingness. not pressure, coercion, or emotional manipulation. Our beloved Prophet (ﷺ) established this for us to follow.
It is narrated that a young virgin woman came to him and said that her father had married her to a man against her will. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) gave her the choice to consent or nullify the marriage. (Sunan Ibn Majah, Sahih).
What a powerful affirmation of a woman’s right to choose her life partner! Our Messenger of Allah ﷺ also said:
“A previously married woman has more right to herself than her guardian, and a virgin’s consent is sought, and her consent is her silence.” [Sahih Muslim]
Can we see the balance and mercy in Islam from the above-mentioned hadith? For a widow or divorcee, we need to seek her approval or verbal consent. For an unmarried girl, her modest silence is counted as approval only when she is not under duress or forced. Her silence will not be counted as her consent if she is under fear or pressure because forcing a woman into marriage is oppression and void.
For a virgin, shyness is natural, and her silence in the presence of a guardian she trusts is taken as agreement. However, if she explicitly says “No,” her refusal is absolute. Silence under social pressure or fear is not the “consent” the Hadith refers to. True consent is an atmosphere where a woman feels safe to express her genuine will.
What did the Prophet ﷺ do when he heard of a lady being married off against her will?
Now, my dear brothers and sisters, if anyone still doubts, the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ leaves no ambiguity whatsoever. A woman came to the Prophet ﷺ and said that her father had married her against her will. What did the Prophet ﷺ do?
It was narrated from Khansa’ bint Khidam that her father married her off after her previous marriage ended, but she disliked it. She came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and he annulled their marriage. (Sahih Bukhari 5138)
Imam Ibn Hajar commented, “There is a consensus upon the annulment of the marriage, if her previous marriage ended and then she was married off without her consent.” (Source: Fath al-Barii 9/194)
Our Prophet invalidated the marriage. This is what our Prophet did ﷺ. So the Prophet (ﷺ) gave her the choice. Let us absorb the gravity of this. This woman comes to the Prophet (ﷺ) herself. Her father, her wali, had forced her. The Prophet (ﷺ) did not tell her to be patient, to obey her father in this, or to accept it as her qadr. He immediately invalidated the forced marriage and restored her right to choose. Another piece of evidence is..
Aisha reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, should women be asked for their consent before marriage?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Yes.” I said, “A virgin might be shy to speak when asked.” The Prophet said, “Her silence is her consent.” (Sahih Bukhari and Muslim 1420)
Difference between Forced Marriage vs Arranged Marriage
My dear brothers and sisters, one of the greatest confusions surrounding forced marriage in Islam is the failure to distinguish it from arranged marriage. These two are not the same. Islam is a religion of balance. It does not isolate individuals from family wisdom, nor does it allow families to dominate individual lives. Instead, it creates a path where guidance walks alongside choice.
An Islamic arranged marriage is a facilitated union with consent. It is a structure where families, with their wisdom, experience, and genuine concern, actively seek out and propose suitable, righteous spouses for their children. It is a collaborative effort. The guardian acts as a wise filter and a protective guide, not a dictator.
The ultimate green light, however, rests firmly with the individuals getting married, especially the woman. If she agrees to it, then this is good, and that seals the contract. Without it, there is no marriage, only an imposition. If she says NO, then the marriage is invalid if she is forced.
This arrangement comes inthe form of advice where the guardian advises his daughter to marry someone based on some good things related to religion and good character he sees in the man. However, if the woman says no, then no is no. Evidence of this comes from the sunnah of our Prophet ﷺ, where he said…
“If there comes to you one with whose religion and character you are pleased, then marry [your daughter] to him.” (Sunan At-Tirmidhi).
Notice the criterion: religion and character. Not wealth, not status, not tribal alliance. And notice the directive is to the guardian, to facilitate a marriage to a righteous person, not to compel it.
The family’s role is to investigate, advise, and ensure compatibility in the most important matters of Deen and morality. As one of the scholars wisely said, “Give your daughters in marriage to righteous men; truly, prosperity lies in righteous companionship.” This is the spirit of Islamic arrangement: seeking prosperity in this life and the next through a good match.
Can a Forced Marriage Be Annulled in Islam?
Yes. Without hesitation. A marriage conducted without valid consent is not a true marriage in the sight of Allah, and scholars explained this clearly that such a marriage may be void or defective depending on circumstances. In both cases, it is voidable through Islamic legal channels and for a marriage to be valid, it has to have all the conditions of a valid marriage in Islam (valid nikkah in Islam)
My dear respected brothers, sisters, parents, and guardians, we have walked this path of evidence together. Now, we stand at the conclusion.
The clear, definitive answer is: No. Forced marriage has no place in Islam. It is Ḥaram (forbidden).
It is a violation of the Quran’s command of justice. It is a direct contradiction of the Prophetic Sunnah. It annihilates the very objectives of love and tranquility that Allah ordained for marriage. Forced marriage in Islam is not an Islamic practice; it is a jahili (pre-Islamic ignorance) practice that Islam came to eradicate.
We ask Allah to grant us excellence in character and companionship. Guide our hearts to what You love and are pleased with. Aameen.
