As for rational consideration: if a father does not have the right to sell an iron ring belonging to his daughter without her consent, then how can he compel her to give herself in marriage?! This is even more evident. Indeed, let me give an example closer to the point: if a man asked this woman to hire herself out for two days to sew clothes, while she remained in her family home, and she refused, would her father have the right to compel her to do so—even though this employment would take only two days of her time, and she would still be in her family home? The answer is no. So how can he compel her to marry someone with whom she may live in misery from the marriage contract until separation?! Compelling a woman to marry thus contradicts both the transmitted text and sound reason.

If someone says: “His statement, ‘her permission must be sought,’ indicates that a woman has a say. So let us not confine the ruling to a minor girl: we say that a legally accountable woman may not be compelled, whereas a minor girl may be compelled.”

We reply: What benefit does marriage hold for a young girl?! Is this not disposing of her sexual rights in a matter whose meaning she does not understand?! Let us wait until she understands the interests involved in marriage and understands what marriage entails; then we may marry her off. The welfare at issue is her own.

Thus, the preponderant view is that the consent of a legally accountable virgin is indispensable. As for one who is not legally accountable, namely a girl who has reached nine years of age, is her consent a condition or not? The correct view is that her consent is likewise a condition, because a nine-year-old girl has begun to experience sexual desire and to have an awareness of marriage; therefore, her permission is necessary. This was the view chosen by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, and it is the truth.

As for a girl under nine years of age, is her permission deemed valid? They say: Whoever