No. A marriage requires the consent of the bride, and the Prophet ﷺ cancelled a marriage that a father had arranged for his daughter against her wishes. Arranged marriage, where families suggest and the couple freely agree, is fine; forced marriage is not. Most scholars also require the woman's guardian (wali) to take part in the contract, and classical schools differed over a father's authority when marrying off a virgin daughter.
The Prophet ﷺ was explicit: a previously married woman "should not be given in marriage except after consulting
her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission". When asked how a shy young woman
gives permission, he said her silence indicates it 1. Scholars explain that this is the silence of shyness,
not of refusal.
He also acted on this. Khansa bint Khidam, who had been married before, was married off by her father to a man she disliked; she went to the Prophet ﷺ,
and "he declared that marriage invalid" 2. Forcing someone into a marriage they refuse is not the Prophetic
way, whatever culture may say.
Consent does not mean doing it alone. The Prophet ﷺ said, "There is no marriage without the permission of a
guardian" 3. The wali (usually the father) is there to protect the woman's interests, check the suitor and
represent her family. His role is to serve her, not overrule her.
Guardians also have a duty not to block a good match unfairly. The Quran tells families not to prevent divorced
women from remarrying their former husbands when both agree on an acceptable basis 4. And the Prophet ﷺ warned
that if someone whose religion and character is pleasing proposes and is refused, there will be fitnah and
corruption 5.
For sons, the same logic applies: you cannot be forced, but you should consult and honour your parents. If you
are facing pressure, speak calmly with your parents, involve a trusted relative or imam, and pray istikhara. If
you are being threatened or forced, seek help from a local imam or the proper authorities; Islam does not require
you to accept it.
The evidence
1
HadithSahih al-Bukhari 5136
SahihBukhari
A woman is not married without being consulted or giving permission; a virgin's silence is her consent.
Narrated Abu Huraira:The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "A matron should not be given in marriage except after consulting her; and a virgin should not be given in marriage except after her permission." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! How can we know her permission?" He said, "Her silence (indicates her permission)
The Prophet ﷺ declared invalid a marriage a previously married woman's father arranged against her wishes.
Narrated Khansa bint Khidam Al-Ansariya:that her father gave her in marriage when she was a matron and she disliked that marriage. So she went to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and he declared that marriage invalid
There is no marriage without the permission of a guardian.
Narrated Abu Musa: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: There is no marriage without the permission of a guardian. Abu Dawud said: The narrator Yunus also transmitted on the authority of Abu Burdah, and Isra'il narrated from Abu Ishaq on the authority of Abu Burdah
And when you divorce women and they have fulfilled their term, do not prevent them from remarrying their [former] husbands if they agree among themselves on an acceptable basis. That is instructed to whoever of you believes in Allah and the Last Day. That is better for you and purer, and Allah knows and you know not
5
HadithJami' at-Tirmidhi 1084
Hasangraded by Al-AlbaniGraders differ
Ahmad Muhammad Shakir: Hasan
Al-Albani: Hasan
Zubair Ali Zai: Daif
Refusing a suitor of good religion and character leads to fitnah and corruption.
Abu Hurairah narrated that:The Messenger of Allah said: "When someone whose religion and character you are pleased with proposes to (someone under the care) of one of you, then marry to him. If you do not do so, then there will be turmoil (Fitnah) in the land and abounding discord (Fasad)
This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24