Is it permissible to marry a woman who is pregnant from fornication to spare her from scandal? What is the ruling on the child born of fornication? And how should the relationship with her be while she is pregnant?
It is not permissible to marry a woman pregnant from adultery because she is an adulteress, and Allah has forbidden marrying an adulteress until she repents, as stated in His verse: "The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries the fornicator except a [male] fornicator or a polytheist. And that has been forbidden to the believers." Even if she repents, it is not permissible to marry a pregnant woman until she gives birth, based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) saying: "It is not lawful for a man who believes in Allah and the Last Day to water the plant of another," and "A pregnant woman shall not be engaged in sexual intercourse until she gives birth." As for the child, he is an illegitimate child who is legally attributed to his mother and her family, and not to the adulterer. Therefore, it is not permissible to marry her except after her repentance and giving birth to her child.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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