Should I Marry a Fornicator With Remorse out of Guilt?

Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil

Question: I have committed zina (fornication) with a muslim girl who has had relations with several men previously.
She did this aiming to get married so she doesn’t regret it. If I marry her I may be able to make her better muslim. I feel guilty. It is a good reason to marry her?

Answer: Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray this finds you well. May Allah grant you clarity and guide you to what is most pleasing to Him.

Zina

“And go not near to fornication; surely it is an indecency and an evil way.” [Qur’an, 17:32]

Sexual intercourse outside of marriage is fornication (zina). It does not matter if the man and the woman intended to get married.

Marriage

Please do not marry this woman out of guilt. You cannot ‘make’ her a better Muslim. That is up to her. I pray that Allah guides her to khayr, and helps her see the error of her ways.

I strongly recommend that you complete this course – Islamic Marriage: Guidance for Successful Marriage and Married Life before considering marriage to anyone. I pray that Allah blesses you with a wife of religion and good character.

Please refer to the following links:

Is it Prohibited to Marry Someone Guilty of Adultery/Fornication?

Wassalam,
Raidah

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani