Should She Divulge Her Husband’s Sins
Fatwa No: 383386

Question

Salam. If a woman is planning to get married to a well known male in the community who is not known to wrong others, but when the woman married him, his true colors showed, is the woman allowed to publicly tell others about him? He secretly married other women before her and 1 of them was wronged by him. What are the Islamic conditions to solve this type of situation?

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.

First of all, we warn against accusing people without evidence. In principle, Muslims are free from accusations.

This man may have excuses or interpretations (to the situations about which) he is accused, so one should mindful of this.

If we presume that what is mentioned in the question is true, then if this person is not known to be a sinner, then in principle, he should be concealed and not divulged.

Those who know about his case should privately advise him to change his behavior, rectify his conduct, and return the rights to their owners.

This is the principle ruling, unless it is necessary to act otherwise in order to give the rights back to their owners.

Therefore, if it becomes mandatory to act otherwise in order to get these rights back from him; then, in this case, the evil that he does should be divulged as a way of deterring him and getting the rights back from him.

Allah knows best.

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