Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Asam-aleykum, I would like to know is it possilble to marry a prengnant woman.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Is it legal to marry pregnant woman

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Respected brother, if the pregnant woman is someone’s wife, obviously it would be unlawful for a believer who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day to seek a married woman in Shariah Law.

If the woman is divorced or is a widow and is pregnant, then it is obligatory upon her to fulfill her ‘iddah’ or waiting period of divorce (or death of her husband), which in Shariah Law is until she has delivered her child. A marriage to a woman who is observing her ‘iddah’ or waiting period of divorce (or the death of her husband) would be illegal and null and void in the Sight of Shariah Law, and in the Sight of Allah Subhanah.

But if the woman is pregnant due to illegal sexual intercourse or ‘zina’, it would obviously neither be prudent nor piety for a believer who fears Allah and the Last Day to seek such an impious woman in marriage. But if for any reason a believer seeks to marry such a woman, provided all the other obligatory conditions of a ‘nikaah’ are fulfilled, the marriage itself will be considered legal in the Sight of Shariah Law.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan