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Secret Nikah with convert and challenges.

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Askimam.org

I recently married a convert who was a mushrik, a Hindu, before our marriage. She took shahada first at an Islamic center and 2 weeks later we got married by an imam in front of 2 witness. We became attracted to each other before marriage and I told her I cannot marry a Hindu until she becomes Muslim and she agreed. She had no intention of converting to Islam before marriage and takes little interest in learning.

She is a single mother of 2 teenage daughters and is afraid her family and friends will disown her and cutoff relationship if she reveals her conversion.I am widowed and live with my kids. She and I both live in our own separate homes because she wants to keep it all secret. I get the feeling we got married for convenience and feel she should convert for the sake of Allah not because she wants to marry me. When I tell her she keeps saying she believes in Allah and the prophets however I don’t see much efforts in learning. I have taken a pause in our physical relationship because I feel I will commit a sin as I have doubts.

Should I continue to teach her Islam and continue my relationship as a husband with her? Will I commit a sin if I continue physical relationship? If I wait too long or break the marriage chances are she may turn her back from Islam and if that happens will I be guilty in the eyes so Allah?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Brother in Islam,

The conversion of your wife to Islam is valid and your nikah to her is also valid

Your concerns about your wife’s Islam is correct. However, being born in a Muslim family, you may not understand the challenges and difficulties one undergoes in converting to Islam especially when one is face with challenges from ones family as is in your wife’s case. Therefore, when dealing with your wife implore wisdom and keep in mind all the sacrifices she has given to accept this beautiful Deen. Never do anything that will move her away from Islam and continue giving her dawah. Kindly explain to her that as Muslims, Allah Taa’la has blessed us with the wealth of Islam.  Islam is the way of life that is perfect and complete.  

Since you have already performed your Nikah secretly and your wife is facing challenges from her family. Continue your relationship with her, keep teaching her about Islam and keep on giving her moral support. When you both feel the time is right then, you should openly declare your Nikah with her and live together as a family. [1]

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Ismail Dawoodjee

Student Darul Iftaa
Zambia

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net 

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: ” أَعْلِنُوا النِّكَاحَ مسند أحمد, ج.٢٦, ص.٥٣, مؤسسة الرسالة

This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

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