Question Summary:
Previously married to non-Muslim. Question Detail:
As salaam alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatu, I have been married by the land here in the US for almost 5 years to a non Muslim man. I got married at a time I was not practicing whatsoever. This man and I have been separated for 10 months now and I desire to marry and have a Nikah. The only problem is I have not had an official divorce from the land from him. I do have a brother that is interested in marrying me but I believe the marriage by the land may be a problem. He does know of that marriage and believes it may be a problem as well when brought in front of the Imam here. We both fear Allah and want to fulfill half of our Deen by getting married as well as helping us keep away from major sins like zina. The only reason I have not filed for divorce is because of monetary issues. Insha'Allah you will help guide me/us in the right direction. Shukran
Answer :
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Your legal/civil marriage with the non-Muslim man is not recognised in Shariah. It is permissible for you to perform a nikah without obtaining a legal/civil divorce. We also advise you to seek legal counsel to safeguard yourself from legal implications. [i] [ii]
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Imran Patel
Student Darul Iftaa
Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[i]
الفتاوى الهندية (7/ 7)
وَلَا يَجُوزُ تَزَوُّجُ الْمُسْلِمَةِ مِنْ مُشْرِكٍ وَلَا كِتَابِيٍّ ، كَذَا فِي السِّرَاجِ الْوَهَّاجِ
فتاوی محمودیہ (11/127)-فاروقیہ
[ii]
الفتاوى الهندية (11/ 190)
لَا تَجِبُ الْعِدَّةُ عَلَى الزَّانِيَةِ وَهَذَا قَوْلُ أَبِي حَنِيفَةَ وَمُحَمَّدٍ رَحِمَهُمَا اللَّهُ تَعَالَى كَذَا فِي شَرْحِ الطَّحَاوِيِّ .
الحجة على أهل المدينة (3/ 269)
مُحَمَّد قَالَ قَالَ ابو حنيفَة رَضِي الله عَنهُ فِي الْمَرْأَة تزنى فيقام عَلَيْهَا الْحَد فتتزوج قبل ان تحيض ان النِّكَاح جَائِز وان حملت من الزِّنَا فَتزوّجت وَهِي حَامِل فَالنِّكَاح جَائِز وَلَا يَنْبَغِي لزَوجهَا ان يَطَأهَا حَتَّى تضع لَان الزَّانِيَة لَا عدَّة لَهَا انما الْعدة من قبل النِّكَاح الَّذِي يثبت نسب الْوَلَد فِيهِ ان كَانَ جَائِزا اَوْ فَاسِدا
بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع (3/ 192)
ولا عدة على الزانية حاملا كانت أو غير حامل؛ لأن الزنا لا يتعلق به ثبوت النسب
الدر المختار وحاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار) (3/ 50)
قَالَ فِي الْبَحْرِ: لَوْ تَزَوَّجَ بِامْرَأَةِ الْغَيْرِ عَالِمًا بِذَلِكَ وَدَخَلَ بِهَا لَا تَجِبُ الْعِدَّةُ عَلَيْهَا حَتَّى لَا يَحْرُمَ عَلَى الزَّوْجِ وَطْؤُهَا وَبِهِ يُفْتَى لِأَنَّهُ زِنًى وَالْمَزْنِيُّ بِهَا لَا تَحْرُمُ عَلَى زَوْجِهَا
المبسوط للسرخسي (5/ 471)
وَهَذَا لِأَنَّ الْعِدَّةَ حَقٌّ مِنْ حُقُوقِ النِّكَاحِ ، أَلَا تَرَى أَنَّهَا لَا تَجِبُ بِدُونِ النِّكَاحِ أَوْ شُبْهَةِ النِّكَاحِ ، وَلَا مَعْنَى لِمَا قَالَ : إنَّ وُجُوبَهَا بِمَاءٍ مُحْتَرَمٍ ؛ لِأَنَّهُ إنْ اعْتَبَرَ أَصْلَ الْمَاءِ فَهُوَ مَوْجُودٌ فِي الزَّانِيَةِ ، وَلَا عِدَّةَ
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