Question:
Assalamualaikum.
My question is about lying to a spouse or potential spouse to cover up one’s past sins.
Suppose someone has committed fornication in the past and sincerely repents and reforms himself. He then begins talking to a chaste girl for the sake of marriage. Is he required to inform her of the past acts of fornication without her asking or is he allowed to keep quiet about it if she does not ask? What about if she asks him if he is a virgin or has had a girlfriend in the past – is he allowed to lie to cover up his past, given that he has reformed himself and sincerely repented? What if she asks him after they are married – is he allowed lying to save the marriage from breaking apart?
I anxiously await your prompt response.
Jazaakallah
Answer:
.
In this case, if she does not ask then he is allowed to remain silent about his past and he is not required to inform her regarding his past acts according to Shari’ah. After marriage if the wife inquires about his past and if the husband has sincerely changed his life for the better and he feels that informing her of the past will cause problems in their marriage, then he is allowed to speak a white lie to conceal his past.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
16 May 2005
07 Rabee’uth Thaani 1426