Question
Assalamu ‘Alaykum.
I was a kind of Athiest earlier in life. I got into Islam later but didn’t say the Shahada. The same happened to my wife. We both practice now. Is our marriage valid?
Answer
Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.
I pray you are well.
Yes, your iman is valid, and so is your marriage. The Shahada is a means to let the Muslim community know you are a Muslim, so the relevant rulings can be applied to you, such as burial in a Muslim graveyard.
This can be known through other actions, such as prayer, fasting, etc. Your marriage is valid. Work on improving your marriage and your practice of the din. That is the way to success: “Truly, though the remembrance of Allah, do hearts become tranquil.“ (Qur’an, 13:28)
May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.
[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani