Q: I am born a Muslim but I got distracted at some point in my life and commited adultery with my ex boyfriend. However I got married last year with a virgin man. I did not repent before getting married because I did not realize that it had to be done. I have been realising my mistakes lately and I cannot tell you how ashamed I am of my past. I repented to Allah several times after marriage.
Now I got to know that in the Quran it is mentioned that a fornicator cannot marry a pure man. I have also read that the scholars say that if a person repents, only then can they marry a pure man. As I have mentioned that I have repented from my heart and I still am repenting but it is after marriage.
Will my marriage still be valid? Or do I need to renew the marriage contract? My husband doesn’t know about my past. Please let me know what should I do now?
A: Your nikaah is valid. And the Quraan Shareef is not instructing you that you cannot marry, rather it is showing you how despicable this act is, that under normal circumstances the male fornicator is comfortable and satisfied with a woman of his type. Make istighfaar and do not expose your sins before people.
And Allah Ta’ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)