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Fatwa CenterNot telling the husband of previous sexual assault does not affect the validity of marriage
Question
A girl was raped, but she did not tell anyone about that incident out of fear for her family’s reputation and a wish to keep her face and repent, seeking forgiveness from Allaah The Almighty. This girl performed Hajj and repented to Allah the Exalted. Her family forced her to get married after she had refused many suitors for fear of potential scandal. Finally, she got married, and her husband had some suspicions about it but later on he forgot and was convinced of her justifications. Would her repentance to Allaah The Exalted be acceptable? Does the fact that she did not inform her husband about the sexual assault invalidate the marriage contract? Is her marriage valid or has she committed another sin?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
If the marriage meets the due pillars and conditions of marriage in Islam, then it is valid, and the fact that you did not inform your husband that you were raped does not affect the validity of the marriage contract. It is recommended for you to conceal your flaws and not to tell anyone about them.
However, if you were raped, as you have mentioned, then you are the victim here and you are not sinning or faulted for that. Nevertheless, if it happened with your consent, then you should sincerely repent to Allaah The Exalted of such sin.
We wish to advise Muslim husbands who are in the same situation of your husband to not hesitate in maintaining their conjugal lives with their wives – who have been victims of rape – honorably, if they showed signs of remorse, turned to Allaah The Exalted in sincere repentance, and became righteous Muslim women.
Allaah Knows best.
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