Discovering that wife is still married to her first husband

3-1-2018 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum. I got married last year, whereas my wife was already married in 2014. She did not get divorced and concealed that information from me. A few days ago, I learned that she was already married and concealed this information from me. She has falsely submitted documents with a wrong date of birth for our wedding. Please help me obtain a fatwa regarding my marriage annulment. May Allah reward you.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It appears from your question that you married that woman while she was still married to her ex-husband (not divorced from him). If this is the case, then your marriage to her is invalid and it must be annulled. Please refer to fatwa 43448 and 87134.

It is more appropriate to refer to Islamic centers in your country because there are details regarding the rulings resulting from this marriage.

If that woman concealed from you that she was already married and lied to you in regard to her date of birth, then she has to repent to Allah from all that.

Allah knows best.