What is the ruling on a Muslim man marrying a Christian woman who was five months pregnant by another man, knowing that she divorced her Christian husband and married the Muslim man days after her divorce (without observing the iddah period)?

The Muslim brother made a mistake by marrying a Christian woman who was an adulteress, pregnant from fornication, and in her waiting period ('iddah). It is not appropriate to marry a woman who easily commits immoral acts. He must repent and separate from this woman, then seek a chaste Muslim woman. Marrying Muslim women is preferable and better than marrying women from the People of the Book.

As for this woman's waiting period ('iddah), it is calculated from the first divorce. Marrying her before her 'iddah expires is invalid, and he must separate from her immediately. If she repents and he wishes to marry her, it must be with a new contract and dowry after her 'iddah has ended.

If she was pregnant from fornication during her 'iddah, her 'iddah ends either by three menstrual cycles if she menstruates, or by giving birth if she does not menstruate. As for marrying a woman pregnant from fornication, there is a difference of opinion, but the correct view is that it is permissible, though sexual intercourse with her is disliked before childbirth.

The first marriage is invalid because it took place during the waiting period ('iddah). He must remarry her with a new contract after her 'iddah has ended. The Malikis hold that whoever marries a woman during her 'iddah and has sexual intercourse with her, she becomes permanently forbidden to him.