Fatwa ID: 02933

Answered by: Molana Muddasser Dhedhy​

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah

My cousin just got divorced in April 2019. She has 4 children and the youngest one is 3 years old. She is financially week and her brothers and sisters are not supporting her. We both want to get married so she can live with Dignity and safety. The problem is I only get leave from my work from 31/5 to 1/6 2019 to go to Pakistan and get married after that I can get leave in December. She doesn't feel safe until December as she is young and already people approaching her to make relation (Zinah) as she is poor. She is feeling very unsafe and also week and not sure what would happen to her until December.

My question is can I get married to her in May 2019 when she has not completed Idda.

Answer:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

A woman cannot be married by another man during her iddah. Your cousin must wait for her iddah period to pass then you can marry her. In the meantime, you may financially support her.^[1]

You do not need to take an extended leave from your workplace to marry her when her iddah is complete. You could visit Pakistan for a weekend and have the nikah done. Also an alternative option for you is, when her iddah is complete you can appoint a wakīl (agent) in Pakistan to contract the marriage and to pronounce the proposal and acceptance on your behalf with your cousin, in the physical presence of at least two Muslim, sane, mature male witnesses or one male and two female witnesses. In this case you will not have to travel to Pakistan. You may hear the nikāh over the phone but may not take any active part in it.^[2]

Only Allah Ta'ala knows best.

Written by Molana Muddasser Dhedhy
Checked and Approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham