What is the ruling on secret marriage in the event that the family does not approve of an announced marriage, and there is a desire to expiate for forbidden acts, and given that the wife is divorced and has daughters, which makes it difficult for society to accept her?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
If by secret marriage is meant an agreement between a man and a woman secretly only, then it is forbidden fornication. However, if the marriage fulfills the conditions and pillars, but is kept secret from some people or is not announced with a drum, then it is a valid and permissible marriage according to the majority of scholars.
However, obedience to parents is obligatory if they forbid marriage to a specific woman. The questioner must repent sincerely for the forbidden acts he has committed, then seek a righteous wife.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/48104
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 48104
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- . 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