Uncle complicates his niece's marriage proposal from a new Muslim
Fatwa No: 256897

Question

assalaumualikum. a sister has got a proposal from a good practising muslim convert.how should we deal with this.? the boy's family has aslo conveted to islam about 9 years back.what advice would you give to someone who acts superior over the converts? the proposal has already been accepted and the girl's family really likes the boy and there is only 2 months left before the wedding.now an uncle is going everywhere making it really ugly telling people to cancel the marriage.he is asking everyone about the boy and everyone is telling him that he is a very good boy go ahead with the wedding.but he wont accept it.yet he has not said anything to the girl it the girl's parents. JazakAllah

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.

New converts to Islam should be properly welcomed and given due care by their Muslim brothers. A person who has recently embraced Islam must receive kind treatment from other Muslims so that they show him the virtues of Islam. They should also help him remain firm and steadfast on the truth and in facing the tests of faith from the devils among mankind and the jinn.

As regards what you have mentioned, i.e. treating new Muslims with a sense of superiority or haughtiness, then this is very serious and it is only an ignorant and arrogant person who would do so. Dealing with a new Muslim in this manner can be a cause for one renouncing Islam, and so, such a person would have caused this and helped the devil against him. There is no doubt that this involves great sin.

We have already clarified in Fataawa 16913 and 90797 that if a non-Muslim embraces Islam, he becomes a member of the Muslim community and he has the same rights as other Muslims. It is permissible to accept him as a suitor if he becomes a good Muslim; so please refer to the above Fataawa.

Therefore, if this man is satisfactory with regard to his religion and has good moral conduct, and the girl wants to marry him, then her guardian should marry her off to him and he should not pay attention to her uncle or others if they have nothing to justify their refusal. This uncle should be advised to fear Allaah and not to hinder the completion of this marriage.

Allaah Knows best.

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