Q: I am a recently widowed woman, who has met a man who is divorced. He has not been living with his wife for the last 3 years. He does not see either his daughters nor his wife accept on Eid. He has told me that he is divorced legally. I have checked with the home affairs and it is true. He told me that he had given her 1 talaaq and waited for her to come back home but she had not returned since that day 3 years ago. Islamically is his nikaah still binding with her? Can she still come back to him and their nikaah will still be valid? Why does he not want to make a commitment with me, has something to do with his nikaah!
A: This type of casual relationship with men is not at all correct. Modesty and shame is an integral part of our faith. If you have doubts about the person, the simple logical thing is that you don’t pay any attention to him regarding nikaah etc. Hence, you won’t have to suffer the concern that why is he not making a commitment with you. Further, it is his prerogative if he wishes to marry you and take another wife. He has the right to this. You have no reason to object.
If he has divorced his wife once and he has not revoked the divorce, he may renew the nikaah with her if he wishes.
وإذا كان الطلاق بائنا دون الثلاث فله أن يتزوجها في العدة وبعد انقضائها لأن حل المحلية باق لأن زواله معلق بالطلقة الثالثة فينعدم قبله ومنع الغير في العدة لاشتباه النسب ولا اشتباه في إطلاقه وإن كان الطلاق ثلاثا في الحرة أو ثنتين في الأمة لم تحل له حتى تنكح زوجا غيره نكاحا صحيحا ويدخل بها ثم يطلقها أو يموت عنها (الهداية 2/399)
(وينكح ) مبانته بما دون الثلاث في العدة وبعدها بالإجماع ومنع غيره فيها لاشتباه النسب ( لا ) ينكح ( مطلقة ) من نكاح صحيح نافذ كما سنحققه ( بها ) أي بالثلاث ( لو حرة وثنتين لو أمة ) ولو قبل الدخول وما في المشكلات باطل أو مؤول كما مر ( حتى يطأها غيره ولو ) الغير ( مراهقا ) يجامع مثله وقدره شيخ الإسلام بعشر سنين (الدر المختار 3/409)
Answered by:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)