Is it permissible for a father to compel his daughter to marry someone she does not desire, and is this marriage considered Islamically valid, and if it takes place, would the relationship be considered fornication?

The ruling we adopt, which is the madhhab of Abu Hanifa, is that a guardian—even if he is a father or grandfather—does not have the right to compel a woman to marry a man she does not approve of. Nevertheless, both parties are advised: the woman to accept a man of good character and religious commitment, and the guardians not to compel their daughters to marry someone they do not approve of; because marriage requires understanding and affection, not coercion.