Is the marriage of a man to a woman with whom he had previously committed adultery, and whom he persuaded to seek a divorce from her husband so that he could marry her and have children with her, islamically valid, especially after their sincere repentance and deep remorse? And is it obligatory for them to separate? What would happen to their children if the answer is separation, knowing that he follows the Hanafi school of thought and has read fatwa number (201510), which states that "whoever corrupts a woman against her husband, and spoils her for him until she leaves him, and then marries her: his marriage is not valid, and separation between them is obligatory according to what Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, chose, and it is the view of the Maliki school"?
First: What the man did by committing adultery with the married woman and inciting her to divorce is a grave crime, and "corrupting a woman against her husband" is a great sin with a severe warning. Second: What the woman did by committing adultery is a betrayal, and its punishment for a chaste woman is stoning, and her seeking divorce without cause is forbidden. Third: The Malikis hold that marriage to one whom a man corrupted against her husband is forbidden, while the majority view the marriage as valid, though sinful. If the spouses genuinely repent, regretting their adultery and conspiracy against the first husband, they should increase their good deeds that atone for sins. They are not required to separate after repentance, especially with the presence of children.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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