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What is the ruling of Islamic law regarding an 'urfi marriage (customary marriage) that took place between a man and a woman and then they separated? Is the man obligated to divorce the woman in person? And what is the ruling of Islamic law if the woman wishes to marry someone else?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Acquaintance and love relationships between men and foreign women are a gateway to discord and evil. If a man loves a woman, the permissible way for him to enjoy her company is through a legitimate marriage, with its conditions and pillars (guardian, witnesses, offer, acceptance). Writing an 'urfi' marriage document with only offer and acceptance is not a legitimate marriage; rather, it is fornication. One must repent to Allah. This frivolous act does not require divorce. If the woman wishes to marry someone else, she may do so after her 'iddah (waiting period) has expired from the intercourse that occurred between you.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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