Refusal to Marry Good Muslim

16-6-2003 | IslamWeb

Question:

If a person wants to marry you and is a good Muslim but you don't want to marry him is it Haram to refuse?

Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

When a pious man who is a good match for a woman proposes to marry her, it is unlawful to refuse his offer. The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: “If a man whose religion and moral conduct are pleasing to you proposes to you, then let him marry; otherwise there will be great mischief and corruption on earth.” [At-Tirmithi]

But we cannot say that this girl will commit a sin if she refuses a man with such characteristics. In fact, this man might have other characteristics like not being handsome, being poor, living in a remote place, or similar things. She even has the right to refuse a man who is a perfect match and free from all such shortcomings, as this depends, in the first place, to one’s desire. It is known that a marriage that is contracted without desire is doomed to failure.

Allah knows best.

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