Fatwa ID: 08368
Answered by Maulana Muhammad Zubair Khan Alizai
Question:
I wanted to know what the best course of action would be if parents are stopping you from getting married because the potential suitor has some long term health issues. Is this allowed in Islam to be a reason to reject a proposal even if the person has good character and is a practicing Muslim?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Kafaa’a (ie compatibility) in marriage is something that is of utmost importance because if there is a lack of compatibility between the future spouses it can lead to divorce. In order to prevent such outcome, Islam and Sharia has laid down certain guidelines and rules. Both spouses should be at the same level of religiosity, and if f.ex the husband is not a practicing person and the wife is a practicing person we see that many issues arises from such relationship, and as mentioned before it leads to divorce.
Another aspect of compatibility is their status, so if f.ex the wife is from a wealthy family and she is accustomed to a certain way of life, and if she was to marry someone who is poor then again this will lead to issues that may end the relationship. Likewise the nafaqah (ie obligation to provide the wife with food and clothes and housing etc), if the husband is not able to provide then again this is not fulfilling his responsibility and thus these issues could lead to divorce.
Coming to your question, if the potential suitor has a long term sickness, which would in essence mean that he will not be able to provide for you, and for this reason your parents are in their full right to refuse such a person for marriage. Another point is Hirfah (ie profession, job, career), if the potential suitor is in a long term illness then most likely he will not be able to work, and thus this is also a valid reason for your parents to refuse such a person.
In conclusion, if there is a misbalance in compatibility between the spouses such that issues arises from this and potentially lead to divorce, then the parents (specifically the father or grandfather) has the right to prevent such marriages and if such marriages were to take place they have the right to cancel such marriages.
References:
- الفتاوى العالمكيرية الفتاوى الهندية المكتبة دار الفكر المجلد ٣ الصفحة ٨٦
… وَنَظَمَ الْعَلَّامَةُ الْحَمَوِيُّ مَا تُعْتَبَرُ فِيهِ الْكَفَاءَةُ فَقَالَ:
إنَّ الْكَفَاءَةَ فِي النِّكَاحِ تَكُونُ فِي … سِتٍّ لَهَا بَيْتٌ بَدِيعٌ قَدْ ضُبِطْ
نَسَبٌ وَإِسْلَامٌ كَذَلِكَ حِرْفَةٌ … حُرِّيَّةٌ وَدِيَانَةٌ مَالٌ فَقَطْ
قُلْت: وَفِي الْفَتَاوَى الْحَامِدِيَّةِ عَنْ وَاقِعَاتِ قَدْرِي أَفَنْدِي عَنْ الْقَاعِدِيَّةِ غَيْرُ الْأَبِ وَالْجَدِّ مِنْ الْأَوْلِيَاءِ لَوْ زَوَّجَ الصَّغِيرَةَ مِنْ عِنِّينٍ مَعْرُوفٍ لَمْ يَجُزْ لِأَنَّ الْقُدْرَةَ عَلَى الْجِمَاعِ شَرْطُ الْكَفَاءَةِ كَالْقُدْرَةِ عَلَى الْمَهْرِ وَالنَّفَقَةِ بَلْ أَوْلَى اهـ وَأَمَّا الْكَبِيرَةُ فَسَنَذْكُرُ عَنْ الْبَحْرِ أَنَّهُ لَوْ زَوَّجَهَا الْوَكِيلُ عِنِّينًا مَجْبُوبًا جَازَ وَإِنْ كَانَ لَهَا التَّفْرِيقُ بَعْدَ.
الصفحة ٩٢
… فَالْعَالِمُ الْعَجَمِيُّ يَكُونُ كُفُؤًا لِلْجَاهِلِ الْعَرَبِيِّ وَالْعَلَوِيَّةِ لِأَنَّ شَرَفَ الْعِلْمِ فَوْقَ شَرَفِ النَّسَبِ
وَارْتَضَاهُ فِي فَتْحِ الْقَدِيرِ وَجَزَمَ بِهِ الْبَزَّازِيُّ وَزَادَ وَالْعَالِمُ الْفَقِيرُ يَكُونُ كُفُؤًا لِلْغَنِيِّ الْجَاهِلِ وَالْوَجْهُ فِيهِ ظَاهِرٌ لِأَنَّ شَرَفَ الْعِلْمِ فَوْقَ شَرَفِ النَّسَبِ فَشَرَفُ الْمَالِ أَوْلَى …
And only Allah Taala knows best
Written by Maulana Muhammad Zubair Khan Alizai
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
