Can a Muslim girl marry a Muslim man without the consent of her parents? They will not allow her to marry him because he is of a different ethnicity, and not for religious reasons. Would the marriage be permissible?
Islamically, it would be reasonable (i.e. to marry him without consent) if he is a believer, well-mannered, and has a means for earning a suitable living. Ethnicity is not a requirement in Islam and the parents cannot unfairly restrict her on these baseless grounds. Most of the infallible imams’ mothers were from different ethnicities. We recommend seeing this presentation for more details: https://www.imam-us.org/m-m-hosts-panel-discussion-martyrdom-anniversary-sayyida-fatimah-p/.
It is important to note that the father’s consent is an essential requirement for the validity of a girl’s marriage. One should think about their parents’ point of view carefully because maybe they do not consider this marriage in their best interest. Parents can often understand the circumstances and consequences of life matters better than their children. Additionally, ask a local religious scholar or seek advice from an expert believer, family, or community for counseling if needed. In the end, it is important in all situations to beseech guidance from God, for He knows what is best.