What is the ruling on a woman marrying another man عرفيًا (through an informal, un-registered marriage contract) while the procedures for her divorce from her absent husband, who has been gone for six months, have not yet been completed, and she is still legally his wife?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If a woman marries before her divorce or khul‘ (divorce at the wife's instance) is finalized and her waiting period (‘) has ended, then her marriage is invalid, and she must separate from the man and repent. However, if an irrevocable divorce ( bain) or khul‘ has occurred and the waiting period has ended, but no official document has been issued, then her marriage is permissible. We also draw attention to the danger of a Muslim residing in non-Muslim countries unless certain conditions are met.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/111864
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 111864
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy