From the lucidity and real beauty of Islam that one needs to open-mindedly discover is its teaching regarding Marriage; in which, ‘Forced Marriage’ owns no place. In Islam, marriage is such an important thing – an act of worship, a Sunnah of the Prophet (SallaLlahu ‘Alayhi was-Salam), a blessed emblem of love, and a channel for children upbringing. Allah says: “And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect” [Surah Ar-Room (30):21].

Hence, when an accusatorial finger is unjustly pointed at Islam due to Forced Marriage, then one should know that Islam is free from such blotch. Abu Hurayrah (RadiyaLlahu ‘Anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (SallaLlahu ‘Alayhi was-Salam) said: “A marriage (contract) is not valid without a Waliyy (Legal guardian)” [Abu Dawood]. Regarding this, Ibn Taymiyah (RahimahuLlah) said (in his Majmoo’ Fatawa) that the scholars unanimously assert that any marriage without the (consent of the) Waliyy of a woman is invalid. Islam is indeed the perfect system of life programmed for humanity and it’s free from the wrong-doings of some Muslims. I beseech Allah to grant us understanding and forgive our shortcomings.

Umm Affan