My Husband Was Drunk the Night Before Our Marriage. Is Our Marriage Valid?

Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil

Question: Assalam aleykum,

My husband confessed that he was drunk the night before our marriage contract. He was sober during it – so is our marriage valid? He used to drink, and I live in constant fear that he will fall back into this bad habit.

Answer: Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray this finds you well. May Allah reward you for reaching out to us.

Nikah

Dear sister, please rest assure that your nikah (marriage) is valid.

Prayer

“Verily in the messenger of Allah ye have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah much.” [Qur’an, 33:21]

I encourage you to perform the Prayer of Need in the last third of the night. Ask Allah to guide and protect your husband. Please have trust that Allah knows everything you and your husband are going through.

When you feel fearful, remember that Shaytan calls us to despair. Allah calls us to hope.

Marriage

I encourage you and your husband to enrol in and complete this course together: Marriage in Islam: Practical Guidance for Successful Marriages

Knowledge

Fill your home with light. Ramadan is around the corner. Listen to and read Qur’an. Be the person of good character in your home. Set a good example for your husband. Listen to podcasts such as Content of Character and encourage your husband to do the same.

Please refer to these articles:

My Husband Is Not Practicing: What Can I Do To Make Him A Better Muslim?
My Husband Doesnt Pray: How Do I Advise Him?

Please see:

Love, Marriage and Relationships in Islam: All Your Questions Answered

Wassalam,
[Ustadha] Raidah Shah Idil

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil has spent almost two years in Amman, Jordan, where she learned Shafi’i’ fiqh, Arabic, Seerah, Aqeedah, Tasawwuf, Tafsir and Tajweed. She continues to study with her Teachers in Malaysia and online through SeekersHub Global. She graduated with a Psychology and English degree from University of New South Wales, was a volunteer hospital chaplain for 5 years and has completed a Diploma of Counselling from the Australian Institute of Professional Counsellors. She lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with her husband, daughter, and mother-in-law.