Promising a Nikah and Then Going Back on It

Question

At the time of his own child’s wedding, a man promised that he would give his daughter — who at that time was young and a minor — in an exchange marriage. But now the girl has long since reached maturity, while the boy is still a minor, destitute and without any means of livelihood. Besides this, severe tension has arisen between the two sides and relations have become embittered, and if the match is made, harm to the girl is overwhelmingly likely. In these circumstances, in this age of trials (fitan)

Answer

A nikah is not concluded by making a promise. However, breaking a promise without reason is a sin, and making a promise with the intention “I will go against it later” is a grave sin. Yes, if at the time of making the promise there was the intention of fulfilling it, but afterwards such obstacles arose that fulfilling the promise is difficult or contrary to the interests…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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