Question

I did the marriage contract with a woman after giving her the mahr (dowry). I wanted to consummate the marriage with her, but her father refused, until I completely furnish three rooms for her, but I am not able to do that. Is it permissible for me to consummate the marriage with her without her father’s knowledge?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

You do not have the right to consummate the marriage with her except with the knowledge of her father and her family. What you must do is to what her father asked you to do, or go with him to the sharee‘ah court to resolve the matter. As for going against that, being alone with her and being in contact with her in ways in which you are alone together, do not do that, because that will lead to a great deal of evil and harm, and will cause a great deal of trouble and will lead to bad consequences. What you must do is be patient and solve problems in a good way, by reaching an understanding with her father with the intervention of some people of goodwill who can set things straight between you. If it is not possible to bring about reconciliation, then you should refer the matter to the sharee‘ah court in order to solve the problem between you. This is what you must do. End quote.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him).