against her and have advised you to refrain from marrying her. Women are plentiful, and whoever abandons something for the sake of Allah, Allah will replace it with something better. From one standpoint, obeying your parents and brothers is in your best interest; from another, they are more sincere in their concern for you than anyone else. It may well be that they know traits in this woman of which you are unaware and that do not befit you. Therefore you should not marry her—for women are many—and, by Allah’s leave, goodness lies in obeying your parents and brothers.
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Obedience to parents versus obedience to a husband

Question: A dispute has arisen between my husband and my family over a worldly matter. I wanted to support my family, since obedience to one’s parents and treating them kindly fulfills the Prophet’s command (peace and blessings be upon him). Yet I was held back by certain narrations from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) whose authenticity I do not know. Among them is the statement whose meaning is: “If I were to order anyone to prostrate to someone other than Allah, I would command a woman to prostrate to her husband,” and another report that says: “Allah will not be pleased with a woman until her husband is pleased with her.” I have tried in every way to reconcile the two parties, but without success. Please guide me: whose side should I take? I fear that if I anger my parents I will anger Allah, and if I anger my husband I will not be the believing wife who fulfills her husband’s right as she should. I also ask that you direct some advice to them; perhaps Allah will benefit them through it.

Answer: As for the father’s right, there is no doubt that it is a duty, a firmly established right. Allah has commanded that he be obeyed in what is reasonable and treated with kindness in many verses, and likewise