Question

I am 16 and my parents want me to marry a girl from Pakistan when I turn 18. I do not want to marry this person and I am not sure what to do.

Answer

This is a difficult predicament to be in at your age. Alhamdulillah you are looking at your future options and insha Allah you can put things in place that will help you.

Firstly, begin by making sincere duʿa’ to Allah to bless you with a suitable pious spouse to marry. Wake up during the last third of the night perform tahajjud prayers and sincerely ask Allah for a pious spouse.

Recite the following verse of the Qur’an often:

رَبَّنَا هَبْ لَنَا مِنْ أَزْوَٰجِنَا وَذُرِّيَّـٰتِنَا قُرَّةَ أَعْيُنٍۢ وَٱجْعَلْنَا لِلْمُتَّقِينَ إِمَامًا

Rabbana hab lana min azwajina wa dhurriyatina qurrata aʿyun wa’ jʿalna li’l muttaqina imāma.

“Our Lord! Bless us with ˹pious˺ spouses and offspring who will be the joy of our hearts, and make us models for the righteous.” [Qur’an, 25:74]

Secondly, sit down with your parents and kindly inform them that you do not wish to marry this girl and that you would prefer to marry someone religious. If you feel that your parents will not take you seriously, speak to an older relative, maybe an aunt or uncle that can speak to them on your behalf.

If there are practising or religious members of your extended family who your parents respect, you may ask them to recommend potential religious suitors to your parents or ask the imam of your local masjid or a scholar who is respected by your family to suggest a suitable religious spouse for you. Be consistent in asking Allah and He will provide a way for you.

Answered by:
Ifta Research Fellow

Checked & Approved by:
Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
Mufti Zubair Patel