By Musavir Durrani: Forced marriage remains one of the most damaging cultural practices in parts of the Muslim world today. Despite being justified in the name of honor, tradition, or family unity, Islam itself strictly forbids forcing any woman, or man, into a marriage they do not want. Islamic teachings make consent the
core of marriage, while coercion makes a marriage batil (invalid).
The Qur’an Clearly Forbids Forced Marriages.
Allah states in Surah An-Nisa:
“O you who believe, it is not lawful for you to inherit women against their will.”
(Qur’an 4:19)
This verse was revealed to abolish the jahiliyyah practice of controlling or forcing women into marriages.
Islam replaced oppression with dignity, choice, and responsibility.
Prophetic Example: Forced Marriages Declared Invalid
A woman once came to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) complaining that her father had married her
without her permission. The Prophet (PBUH) gave her the full right to reject or accept the marriage,
proving that consent is mandatory.
Hadith References: Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5138. Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1419.
These narrations all confirm that the Prophet (PBUH) allowed the woman to annul her forced marriage.
One narration even states that she chose to remain married but wanted to teach women that fathers
have no right to force their daughters.
Parents Can Advise, But They Cannot Force.
Islam highly respects parents, but marriage choice is not their right. They can guide, suggest, and advise,
but they have absolutely no power to force their child into marrying someone. Even if parents think they
“know what is best,” they cannot override the choice of their daughter or son. The final decision always
belongs to the person getting married.
Statements such as: “If you don’t marry this one, who will marry you?”. “You have no choice.” “Do it for
family honor.” “You must obey your parents.”
These are pure emotional manipulation, and Islam does not allow it. Emotional or Psychological
Pressure is Also Haram. Forced marriage is not only when someone is physically pressured. Even
emotional, mental, or family pressure counts as force. Any Nikkah done under fear, pressure, or threats
is invalid (Batil) in Islam. This ruling is based on multiple hadith in which the Prophet (PBUH) annulled
marriages done without consent.
Modern Forced Marriages, A New Way of Burying Women Alive. Before Islam, Arabs used to bury baby
girls alive. Today, many scholars say: “We no longer bury women in the ground,
we bury their dreams on the day of their Nikkah.”
When a girl is forced into a marriage, pressured emotionally, or told she has no other choice, we destroy
her life while she is still alive. This is the new form of burying women alive, and Islam came to end this
injustice completely.
Forced marriage has no place in Islam. It is against the Qur’an, against the Sunnah, and against the
dignity that Islam gives to every woman and man. Parents must love, support, and guide, but never
control or force marriage decisions.
“Allah gave women this right, and no one can take it away”.
The Writer is a Law student. He can be contacted through his email: musavirkhandurrani@gmail.com
