What is the ruling about remaining in a
marriage when the wife has become a Muslim but her husband is still a kaafir? She has
children with him and is afraid that they may go astray and be lost, and she hopes that
her husband may be guided to Islam if she stays with him.
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14,10903/08/1998
She has embraced Islam but her husband is still a kaafir. What should she do?
Question: 1826
Answer
Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah and his family.
As soon as a woman embraces Islam and her husband refuses to do likewise, the marriage is annulled and it is not permissible for her to live with him. But she should wait out the length of the ‘iddah period. If he embraces Islam, she may go back to him and the previous marriage contract is still counted as valid, but if he does not embrace Islam before the ‘iddah is over, then they are no longer married. If he subsequently embraces Islam and they want to get back together, a new marriage contract must be drawn up. It is not permissible to continue the marriage on the basis of being kind to him.
Majma’ al-Fiqh al-Islami (Islamic Fiqh Council), p. 43.
The children should follow the Muslim parent, so try your best to get custody of them. May Allaah help us and help you by His kindness and mercy.
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Source:
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
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