Is it permissible for a man and a woman who committed zina to marry each other after they repented, given the existence of Ibadi fatwas that prohibit this marriage, and a reported athar from the Prophet (ﷺ) forbidding it in a similar case?
The Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah (Sunni scholars) have agreed on the permissibility of marrying someone who has repented from zina (fornication/adultery). Furthermore, the majority of scholars have affirmed the validity of the marriage even without repentance. They based this on the interpretation by Ibn Abbas of the verse: "The fornicator does not marry except a fornicatress or a polytheistess." He stated that this verse was revealed concerning notorious prostitutes and not every person who commits zina. As for the hadith, "Any man who commits zina with a woman and then marries her, they are always fornicators," it is not marfu' (attributed directly to the Prophet), but rather mawquf (attributed to a Companion) to some Companions like Ibn Mas'ud, Aisha, and Al-Bara'. Their statement can be understood to apply to those who have not repented from zina. This is supported by a narration from Ibn Mas'ud that he saw no harm in marriage after repentance. The important thing is to complete the path of repentance and obedience to Allah.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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