Feeling Trapped: Seeking Guidance on a Forced Engagement
Assalamu alaikum everyone. I really need some advice about a family situation that feels impossible to solve without losing them completely. I'm a sister in my mid-twenties, and my family is insisting I go through with a marriage to a cousin of mine. We've been engaged for over a year, but for the last several months I've been saying this isn't right for me anymore. I thought it was what I wanted initially, but I've realized it just can't work-for so many reasons-and I have no feelings for him. The thought of the marriage now feels like a heavy weight on my chest. I finally stood my ground firmly, which led to major arguments. My parents won't hear of ending it; they even suggested that Shaytan is influencing my decision, which is heartbreaking. I confided in a relative I trusted completely, but sadly, they sided against me and even showed my private messages to my mother. Now my cousin is acting like the victim in front of my mother, pretending he's trying everything while I'm the one being difficult. I feel utterly lost and helpless. I know some might say to speak to a local imam, but I live in a very small community where news travels fast. If my parents found out I sought outside help, it would cause an even bigger crisis. I'm struggling so much-I've lost my sense of safety and trust in my own home. I can barely sleep, eat, or manage daily life. Please remember me in your du'as.