Question Summary:
Arranged marriage with a cousin

Question Detail:

As Salam alikum,

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

According to shariah, you have an independent right to choose your marriage partner. You will also consider the advises and counsel of your seniors in making an appropriate decision. We do not have insight on your personal circumstances. However, you are young. Your seniors have love for you and wish the best for you. They have experiences and insight of life and have arranged your cousin to marry you. You state he has good qualities, but you are not attracted to him. Attraction and good qualities are competing factors in considering a marriage partner. While attraction is a motivating factor in determining a marriage partner, it is not the only factor. If one has the fear of Allah and has good qualities, those qualities offer better security and comfort in life.

We advise you to discuss your concern with your seniors and also make istikarah and seek the guidance of Allah. Also continue making dua to Allah with Salah and zikr. Remember the following verse,

وعسى أن تكرهوا شيئا وهو خير لكم وعسى أن تحبوا شيئا وهو شر لكم والله يعلم وأنتم لا تعلمون(البقرة ٢١٦) 

“Perhaps you may dislike something, and it is good for you, and perhaps you may like something which is not good for you” (Albaqara, 216)

And Allah Taala Knows Best

Mehrazur Rahman

Student Darul Iftaa

Brooklyn, NY, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.