Resolutions of Iftaa' Board



Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Date Added : 02-11-2015

 

Resolution No.(63): “Ignorance of Spouses Regarding the Necessity of Renewing their Marriage Contract after Minor Revocable Divorce“

Date: 5/3/1424 AH corresponding to 7/5/2003 AD.

 

The Board received the following question:

I made revocable divorce to my wife in return for absolution after the consummation of the marriage contract. Later on, I went to my wife and her family and showed remorse over what I have done. I expressed my wish to take her back and after prolonged discussions, I managed to convince them to do so. However, being ignorant of the Sharia ruling in this regard, I took her home without renewing our marriage contract and we lived together and had a number of children. We have recently realized that we should have renewed our marriage contract. Now, we are perplexed as to what we are supposed to do, would you please guide us to do what is right in our situation?

Answer: All success is due to Allah.

The Board is of the view that due to the ignorance of both spouses as regards the ruling of Sharia on their divorce and its consequences, they should make repentance and seek forgiveness for the period, which they spent without renewing their marriage contract. They should also renew their marriage contract, and the children born during that period are considered theirs because they begot them while being ignorant of the Sharia ruling in question. 

And Allah Knows Best.

Iftaa` Board

Chairman of the Iftaa` Board, Chief Justice, Izz Al-Deen Al-Tamimi

                Dr. Mohammad Abu Yahia     

    Dr. Ahmad Hilayil       

       Dr. Yousef Gheezaan   

Dr. Wasif Al-Bakhri

     Sheikh Saeid Hijjawi   

           Sheikh Naeim Mujahid      

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it permissible to pay the expiation of an oath to a charitable party as it feeds the poor and needy such as Tkiyet Um Ali?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and May His Peace and Blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all of his family and companions.

There is no harm on authorizing someone to handle the expiation of another to the poor and needy, since Shafiee's jurists stated that authorizing someone for the purpose of distributing Zakah, expiation and vow is permissible as stated in [Mughni Al-Muhtajj, vol.3 pp.237]. At last, the intention of the person who intends to authorize someone else suffices in this regard. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible to swear by (Allah ”The Living”)?

Yes, it is permissible because “ The Living “ is one of Allah`s Attributes.

Is it incumbent on a wife whose husband hasn`t gone to bed with her(for sexual intercourse) for many years to observe `Iddah(waiting period) upon his death?

Upon the death of the husband, a wife is obliged to observe the `Iddah even if he hadn`t slept with her because she inherits him.

I`m a married young man. I fell in love with a widow and proposed to her but her family refused because they feared that this would have an adverse impact on the future of her children. However, we entered into unregistered marriage and told my family and even my wife about it. I`m a god-fearing person and want to clear myself from any liability before Allah. What should I do?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of The Worlds. May His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
It is imperative that you proclaim this marriage to preserve rights. Therefore, you must register it in an Islamic court. A second marriage isn`t forbidden, however, if the unregistered marriage had taken place without the consent of the woman`s guardian nor the presence of two honorable witnesses, then it is considered void and your relationship with this woman is forbidden. Therefore, you must conclude a new marriage contract with the approval of her guardian and the presence of two honorable witnesses. We advise you to fear Allah and adhere to the teachings of Sharia in this regard since sinful conduct is that which turns in your heart (making you feel uncomfortable) and you dislike that it would be disclosed to other people. And Allah the Almighty knows best.