What is the ruling on parents refusing their daughter's marriage to a righteous young man of good character and religious commitment, who is a civil engineer and financially well-off, on the pretext that he is from another country?

It is not permissible, according to Islamic law, for young men and women to become acquainted under the guise of friendship or love, as this opens the door to temptation and corruption. If a girl approves of a suitor who is competent in his religious practice, her guardian does not have the right to prevent her from marrying him. If the guardian is obstinate in his refusal, he is deemed an 'āḍil (one who unjustly prevents marriage), and the girl has the right to refer the matter to a judge to solemnize her marriage. A father is usually the most concerned person for his daughter's welfare and for choosing a righteous husband. Furthermore, compatibility between spouses in matters other than religion is desirable for the stability of their life together. It is advisable to try to convince the father to accept the suitor by seeking the help of wise individuals. If he insists on refusing, it is preferable to forgo the suitor, unless doing so would cause harm to the girl, in which case she may refer the matter to a judge.