My father is demanding a sum of money before he will agree to be my wali. What should I do?

A wali has no right to sell his consent; if he refuses without a reason recognised by Islamic law, you can apply for a wali hakim through the Syariah Court. The mahr is your right, not the wali's. But start by understanding where the demand comes from. Sometimes it arises from feeling left out or from the family's financial burdens, not simply greed. Invite your father to talk things over with a go-between he respects, such as an imam or an uncle. Say gently: ‘I want you, Dad, to be the one who marries me off.’ If he still insists, keep a record of what happened and see an officer at the state Islamic religious affairs office. See a wali who refuses to marry off.