In islam there is no such thing as arranged or forced marriages, when it is done without the consent of the girl or the boy concerned.. There is no place for it in quran either…
Wherever it is applied, it’s either based on unislamic community customs or due to parties self- interests based on benefits..
ISLAM’S STAND
Islam abolished forced marriages deemed as a practice of pagans. In a well-known hadith documented by Bukhari, the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said:
“A previously married woman shall not be married without being consulted and a virgin shall not be married without her consent.”
This statement clearly establishes the principle of the female’s right to choose a marriage partner.
- Neither the legal guardian nor anyone else can coerce a female (or male) to marry against her wishes, since Islam emphatically disallows forced marriages.
This is clear from an incident in the life of the Prophet (saw) documented by Nisaa’ie. The Prophet’s wife ‘Aishah reported that a young female came to consult the Prophet, saying,
“My father has married me to my cousin to raise his social standing and I was forced into it.”
The Prophet sent for the girl’s father and then in his presence gave the girl the option of remaining married or nullifying the marriage. She responded;
“O Messenger of Allah, I have accepted what my father did, but I wanted to serve a lesson to other women (that they could not be forced into a marriage).”
recorded by Bukhari, and Ibn Majah, "Khansa bint Khidhan who had a previous marriage, related that when her father married her and she disapproved of that, she went to the Messenger of God and he revoked her marriage."
Abu Da'ud, on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas recorded that "A [girl who was not married] came to the Messenger of God and mentioned that her father had married her against her will, so the Prophet allowed her to exercise her choice."
Source:
http://www.citymuslims.org/forcedmarriage.asp
What I would suggest is that you start educating yourself by reading articles about “ marriage in islam” through Islamic sites on the net., then share the information with your boy friend and ask him to share the same info with his parents and family..
If this is not enough then your friend has to find a reliable and respectful member of his family/relative or a member/friend from their local community that his parents would listen to his advice and respect his views..
Or else he has to go and seek help from an imam of a local mosque who is wise and has extensive knowledge of Islam…
Here is one more question and answer on arranged marriages is islam…
http://www.readingislam.com/servlet/Sat ... 4545966081
Actually this web site has good info on “marriage” and “love” issues, you can read them if you go to “index” on “ask about islam”section...