intercourse, she would not be entitled to half the dowry, according to the explicit text of the Quran, because she had not stipulated a specified dowry. The hurt caused to her by divorce is remedied by the consolatory gift. This is not the place to discuss these issues at length.

The point, however, is that the Lawgiver does not compel a woman to marry against her wishes. Indeed, if she dislikes her husband and discord arises between them, the Lawgiver entrusts her case to someone other than her husband: someone from her family who considers their best interests, together with someone from his family who does likewise, thereby freeing her from the husband without his consent. How, then, could she be held captive with him forever without her consent? A woman is a captive with her husband, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Fear Allah concerning women, for they are captives in your care. You have taken them as a trust from Allah, and intimacy with them has become lawful to you through the word of Allah.”

He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was asked:

“A young woman who has reached puberty received a marriage proposal from a relative, but she refused. Her family told the person conducting the marriage contract, ‘Conclude the contract,’ while her father was present. Is it permissible to marry her off?”

He replied:

If the prospective husband is not a suitable match for her, she undoubtedly cannot be compelled to marry him. If he is a suitable match, the scholars hold two well-known views on the matter. However, the view more clearly supported by the Quran, the Sunnah, and sound reasoning is that she cannot be compelled, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“A virgin must not be married until her father seeks her permission, and her silence is her permission.”

And Allah knows best.