Islamic Teachings on Ideal Family Life — Page 24
~ 24 ~ Nik āḥ should be performed. Wal ī has no authority to force the girl to marry anyone. According to the Isl ā mic law, there is no marriage without the approval of the bride, “It is narrated by Ibn ‘Abb ā s (may All ā h be pleased with him) that a virgin girl came to the Holy prophet (peace and blessings of All ā h be upon him) and said that her father had married her with someone but she did not like him. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of All ā h be upon him) gave her the option to maintain that marriage or reject it. ” (Ab ū D ā w ū d, B ā b Fil-Bikr Yuzawwijuh ā Ab ū h ā ) Guardian of a Muslim Girl of a Non- Muslim Family If the bride is the only Muslim in the family, her non- Muslim relative can perform this duty, such as, father, a brother or an uncle. But if her legitimate guardian does not agree with the bride, and she wants to marry a Muslim man, she is not bound to obey that guardian. She has every right to appoint any guardian from among the Muslims. But according to the Isl ā mic law, a bride must have a guardian. The Need for a Guardian for a Woman According to the Isl ā mic Law, there is no need for a guardian for the bridegroom, because the responsibilities, such as, taking care of wife, children, and the whole family, are directly related to the man, and these responsibilities cannot be given to someone else. This is why the man