Short answer
No one can force an adult Muslim woman to marry; her consent is a condition of the nikah. Marriage is a strongly encouraged Sunnah, and becomes wajib if she fears falling into haram, so turning away from it for good without a reason goes against the Sunnah. Delaying for study, health or family reasons is allowed.
In normal circumstances marriage is sunnah mu'akkadah; it is wajib for one who fears zina and makruh for one who fears she would wrong her spouse. An adult woman's nikah without her consent is not valid. Staying single while chaste is not a major sin, but turning away from marriage for good without a reason is blameworthy, since it leaves a confirmed Sunnah.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- For someone with no need or desire, staying single to devote oneself to worship and learning is better than marrying.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said that a previously married woman is not married off without being consulted, and a virgin is not married off without her permission. So a woman's "no" counts. He also said, when some Companions wanted to give up marriage for worship, that marriage is part of his Sunnah and whoever turns away from his Sunnah is not of him. The Quran tells the community to help the unmarried among them to marry.
How the scholars balance this:
- Not now: delaying marriage to finish studies, care for parents, recover from illness or be ready financially is allowed.
- Not this person: refusing a particular proposal is her right. See arranged marriages.
- Never: deciding never to marry while she has the need and ability goes against the Sunnah, and if she fears falling into haram, marriage becomes wajib.
- Real reasons: some women have health, trauma or other reasons that make marriage very hard. That is between them and Allah, and family should be gentle.
Marriage in Islam is meant to bring tranquillity, love and mercy. If fear or a bad experience is behind the wish to stay single, talking to a counsellor or a trusted scholar may help. See marrying without a wali and the nikah guide.
The evidence
Quran, Surah An-Noor 24:32
وَأَنكِحُوا۟ ٱلْأَيَٰمَىٰ مِنكُمْ وَٱلصَّٰلِحِينَ مِنْ عِبَادِكُمْ وَإِمَآئِكُمْ ۚ إِن يَكُونُوا۟ فُقَرَآءَ يُغْنِهِمُ ٱللَّهُ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ وَٰسِعٌ عَلِيمٌۭ ﴿٣٢﴾
And marry the unmarried among you and the righteous among your male slaves and female slaves. If they should be poor, Allah will enrich them from His bounty, and Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
The community is told to help the unmarried to marry.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5136
Sahih... لا تنكح الأيم حتى تستأمر ولا تنكح البكر حتى تستأذن ...
"A previously married woman is not married off until she is consulted, nor a virgin until her permission is sought."
A woman cannot be married without her consent.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5063
Sahih... فمن رغب عن سنتي فليس مني ...
"Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me."
Rejecting marriage altogether goes against the Sunnah.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Nikah, opening chapter. Marriage is a sunnah mu'akkadah in normal circumstances.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Nikah, opening. Marriage becomes wajib or fard when there is fear or certainty of falling into zina, and makruh when one fears wronging the spouse.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.