Fatwa ID: 07657
Answered by: Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Question
Salam, a few years ago I moved out of the house for about 12 months, in the time I joined muzmatch as it was looking like me and the Mrs would end up divorced, and on the profile I lied that I was divorced, but somehow me and the Mrs got back together, but since being back it’s bothering me if me lying on the profile instigated a divorcee,
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
Wa alaikum as salām wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh,
To lie in matters of marriage is grave as the initiation of marriage is considered a sacred act in Islam which Allah is witness to. To mislead someone by lying can cause them much harm. From what you have mentioned, if you misled this lady who is a divorcee and placed hope in you to potentially have a life with you then it is a grave sin, especially if you had no intention of committing to her in marriage.
Furthermore, if you have no intention to marry a woman then be cautious of any unnecessary interaction as it is haram. One should not be in seclusion with an unrelated member (non-mahram) from the opposite sex.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “A man is not secluded alone with a woman (who is not permissible for him) except that Shaytan is the third.”1
[Sunan At-Tirmidhi: 2165]
Abu Hurairah RA narrates that the Prophet of Allah ﷺ said:
“The signs of the Hypocrite are three; when he speaks he lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it; and when he is entrusted with something he betrays that trust.”2 [Sahih Bukhari p.10 v.1]
Lying, breaking promises and betraying a person’s trust are all signs of a hypocrite as these actions go against our belief system. It is apparent that you have a conscience and are trying to put things right again. It would be advisable to let this woman know the truth, so that she may move on and look to finding a suitable spouse. Under the circumstances which you have described, it’s advisable to turn to Allah in repentance because Allah is the All-Merciful, the All-Forgiving.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Aalimah Saleha Bukhari Islam
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
1 أَلاَ لاَ يَخْلُوَنَّ رَجُلٌ بِامْرَأَةٍ إِلاَّ كَانَ ثَالِثَهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ
2 “ آيَةُ الْمُنَافِقِ ثَلاَثٌ إِذَا حَدَّثَ كَذَبَ، وَإِذَا وَعَدَ أَخْلَفَ، وَإِذَا اؤْتُمِنَ خَانَ ”.
