Arranged Marriages From The Islamic View

No, arranged marriages have nothing to do with Islam. It is simply a matter of the parents idea of to whom their children should get married to, whatever religion they are in.

Islam gives you the right to choose your own spouse; in fact arranged marriages are haram if the parents are forcing their children to get married to someone they don’t want to get married to.

Islam stands strong with protecting the right of females and males in choosing their life partner; hence the marriage is only valid if she does not assert her dislike about it.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“A previously married woman should not be married until she has been consulted, and a virgin should not be married until her consent has been sought.”
They said:
“O Messenger of Allah, what is her consent?”
He said:
“If she is silent.”

(Narrated by Al-Bukhaari, 3/372; Muslim, 2/1036; Al-Nasaa’I, 5/86; via Hishaam Al-Dastawaa’I, from Yahya ibn Abi Katheer, from Abu Salamah, from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him))

Getting married is from Allah SWT; and if a woman does not get married in this life, Allah SWT promises her a spouse in the next.

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said:
“There will be no unmarried person in Paradise.”

(Muslim)

In Islam, if a woman sees/knows a man she would like to get married to, she is allowed to propose to that man. She can send someone to do it for her, or she can approach the man herself.

Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) and said:

“O Messenger of Allah, I came to give myself to you (in marriage).”

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) looked her up and down, then he lowered his head.

(Narrated by Ahmed, 5/330, 334, 336; Al-Bukhaari, 3/369; Muslim, 2/1041; Al-Nasaa’i, 6/113; via Abu Haazim Salahmah ibn Dinar, from Sahl ibn Sa’d)

She can ask someone to bring her a potential suitor if she does not know anyone, but if she does not like the man presented, then it is off completely and it would be haram if she was forced to get married to him.

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