{"fatawa":{"id":8526,"title":"They committed zina then got married, and they cannot remember if they repented before doing the marriage contract or not; do they have to do a new marriage contract?","slug":"they-committed-zina-then-got-married-and-they-cannot-remember-if-they-repented-before-doing-the-marriage-contract-or-not-do-they-have-to-do-a-new-marriage-contract","order":"","question":"I am married, but my husband and I committed zina (fornication). After I read your answer to the question \u201cEffects of marriage that results from an illicit relationship\u201d, waswaas (whispers from the Shaytaan) began to affect me and my husband, because we cannot remember when we repented from this sin and I do not remember whether I menstruated before the marriage contract. All I know is that I was not pregnant. We regret it deeply and we do not know what to do.","answer":"Praise be to Allaah.\r\nIt is not permissible for the zaani to marry the zaaniyah except after repenting, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):\r\n\r\n\u201cThe adulterer \u2014 fornicator marries not but an adulteress \u2014 fornicatress or a Mushrikah; and the adulteress \u2013fornicatress, none marries her except an adulterer \u2014 fornicater or a Mushrik [and that means that the man who agrees to marry (have a sexual relation with) a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan or idolatress) or a prostitute, then surely, he is either an adulterer \u2014 fornicator, or a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater). And the woman who agrees to marry (have a sexual relation with) a Mushrik (polytheist, pagan or idolater) or an adulterer \u2014 fornicator, then she is either a prostitute or a Mushrikah (female polytheist, pagan, or idolatress)]. Such a thing is forbidden to the believers (of Isl\u00e2mic Monotheism)\u201d\r\n\r\n[al-Noor 24:3]. \r\n\r\nIf you both repented to Allah before marriage, then your marriage is valid. But if the marriage contract was done before you repented, then this is a matter concerning which the fuqaha\u2019 differed.  \r\n\r\nThe majority are of the view that the marriage of the zaani and zaaniyah is valid, even if they have not repented. \r\n\r\nThe Hanbalis are of the view that the marriage of a zaaniyah is not valid unless she repents, but they did not stipulate that the zaani has to repent in order for the marriage to be valid. Al-Insaaf, 8\/132; Kashshaaf al-Qinaa\u2018, 5\/83. \r\n\r\nAccording to this view, if you repented before the marriage contract, then the marriage is valid, but to be on the safe side you may do a new marriage contract. Repentance means regretting it and resolving not to go back to that sin. If you regretted falling into haraam and resolved to give it up, and got married, then this is repentance on your part. \r\n\r\nWith regard to istibra\u2019 (determining that the woman is not pregnant) or \u2018iddah, this is also a matter concerning which the fuqaha\u2019 differed. The Hanafis and Shaafa\u2018is are of the view that it is not necessary. \r\n\r\nWhat we advise you to do is to do a new marriage contract, without telling the wali the real reason for it. That is in order to be on the safe side. \r\n\r\nHow the marriage contract is to be done is that your wali (guardian) should say to your husband in the presence of two witnesses: \u201cI give my daughter or sister So and so in marriage to you\u201d; and your husband should say: \u201cI accept.\u201d \r\n\r\nIf it is not possible to do a new marriage contract without telling people of the haraam relationship, then we hope that you do not have to do that, and your marriage remains as it is, based on the majority view that this marriage is valid. \r\n\r\nWe ask Allah to set your affairs straight and to accept your repentance. \r\n\r\nAnd Allah knows best.\r\n\r\nIslam Q&A","status":1,"created_at":"2014-11-19T21:51:57.000000Z","updated_at":"2014-11-19T21:51:57.000000Z","language_id":1,"fatawacate_id":35,"parent_id":8525,"author_id":"","books":[],"articles":[],"videos":[],"audios":[],"author_name":"","category_name":"\u0634\u0631\u0648\u0637 \u0627\u0644\u0646\u0643\u0627\u062d","category_slug":"","get_date":"2014-11-19"},"translations":[],"fatawa_books":[],"fatawa_articles":[],"fatawa_videos":[],"fatawa_audios":[],"url":"http:\/\/islamland.com\/eng\/api\/fatawas\/8526"}