In Islam a girl has a wali, a kind of guardian who helps her with marriage, and usually this is her father or another male relative. If you are an orphan or don't have any other family, usually a high Muslim offical will take on that role. He can arrange a marriage for her. And Sayyid cast himself into that role. Some details of how this works vary through the different schools of thought though.

What he forgot, is that a girl has to consent first. I definately didn't consent.