If Sinful Actions Happen At the Wedding, Is the Marriage Still Valid?

Question: If sinful actions happen at the wedding, is the marriage still valid?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

Firstly, the wedding (walima) is something quite different from the marriage contract (nikah). When the marriage contract happens the two are married: they can sleep together and financial support is due.

The wedding is something that is recommended, and it is simply a way of celebrating the contract. Whatever happens at this celebration has nothing to do with whether or not the two are still married.

That said, if the bride or groom intentionally organize sinful things to take place at the wedding, it would not be surprising to see the repercussions of that in their marriage.

Allah Most High says, ‘Whatever hardship befalls you is because of what your own hands have committed, while He overlooks many (of your faults).’ (Qur’an, 42: 30)

If anything of this sort has happened, we should make sincere repentance and start a new slate with Allah Most High. There would, however, be no need to remarry one’s wife or anything like that.

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.