Islamic Rulings on Consent and Forced Marriages in Nikah

Islam on Marriage: Consent and Prohibition of Forced Marriages


Authored by: Qari Usama bin Abdussalam حفظه الله

✦ Teachings Regarding Forced Marriages in Islam​

In Islam, Nikah (marriage) is regarded as a significant and sacred contract, in which the mutual consent of both the man and the woman is an essential condition. Regarding forced marriages, the Qur’an, Hadith, and statements of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم) provide clear guidance. These sources emphatically establish that full consent of both parties must be obtained prior to marriage. The Prophet ﷺ annulled those marriages in which the consent of the bride or groom was absent.


Below are some important Ahadith and statements of the Companions with Arabic text and English translation:

① Hadith of Khansa bint Khidham (رضي الله عنها)​

عَنْ خِنْسَاءَ بِنْتِ خِذَامٍ الْأَنْصَارِيَّةِ: "أَنَّ أَبَاهَا زَوَّجَهَا وَهِيَ كَارِهَةٌ، فَأَتَتْ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ، فَرَدَّ نِكَاحَهُ”.


Translation:
Khansa bint Khidham Al-Ansariyyah (رضي الله عنها) reported that her father married her off against her will. She came to the Prophet ﷺ, and he annulled her marriage.


(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 5138)

② Hadith of Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه)​

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: "لَا تُنْكَحُ الْأَيِّمُ حَتَّى تُسْتَأْمَرَ، وَلَا تُنْكَحُ الْبِكْرُ حَتَّى تُسْتَأْذَنَ”. قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، وَكَيْفَ إِذْنُهَا؟ قَالَ: "أَنْ تَسْكُتَ”.


Translation:
Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“A previously married woman should not be married off until her opinion is sought, and a virgin should not be married until her permission is taken.”
The Companions asked, “O Messenger of Allah, how is her permission taken?” He ﷺ replied: “By her silence.”


(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 5136)

③ Hadith of Jabir bin Abdullah (رضي الله عنه)​

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: "أَنَّ الْبِكْرَ تُسْتَأْذَنُ فِي نَفْسِهَا، وَإِذْنُهَا صُمَاتُهَا”.


Translation:
Jabir bin Abdullah (رضي الله عنه) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“A virgin girl must be asked for her consent about herself, and her consent is her silence.”


(Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 1419)

④ Hadith of Abdullah bin Abbas (رضي الله عنه)​

عَنْ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ: "إِنَّ جَارِيَةً بَكْرًا أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ، فَذَكَرَتْ أَنَّ أَبَاهَا زَوَّجَهَا وَهِيَ كَارِهَةٌ، فَخَيَّرَهَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ”.


Translation:
Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنه) narrated: A virgin girl came to the Prophet ﷺ and complained that her father had married her off against her will. The Prophet ﷺ gave her the choice (to accept or annul the marriage).


(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith No. 1875)

⑤ Statements of the Companions​

Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه):
"The consent of the girl is necessary in matters of marriage. Without her will, the marriage is not valid."
(Musannaf ‘Abd al-Razzaq, Vol. 6, Page 333)

Conclusion​

From the aforementioned Ahadith and the sayings of the Companions, it is clearly established that there is no room for forced marriage in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ annulled all such marriages where the consent of either party was absent. It is a responsibility upon parents to respect the wishes and choices of their children, especially in matters as significant as marriage.


Islamic teachings emphasize that marriage should be based on mutual happiness and willing consent, so that households may be founded on love and tranquility.