I have an embarrassing question, but need an answer. I met a Muslim man in 1993 in the USA. I was a Christian American. We began dating and even lived together and committed Zina. We were both ignorant at the time. He had strayed from Islam and was completely ignorant of even the basics of Islam and I was a Kufr. I got pregnant and we married one month before our son was born. Al-Hamdullilah, 4 months later we moved to an Islamic country. Allaah led me to Islam and I took Shahadah in 1996. Now, both my husband and I are committed to Islam. We are both engaged in Da'wa and we live and breathe Islam. My question is, although we have repented for the sins we committed in true ignorance, will Allaah accept our repentance? Is there anything we can do to ensure that Allaah will forgive us?Also, we got married at an American court, is our marriage valid without a Waali?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

We congratulate you upon your accepting Islam. In fact, it is the only true religion, and every one has to follow it. We also congratulate you on your repentance, spreading the message of Islam and adhering to the rulings of Islamic legislations.

Allaah is merciful and accepts the repentance of those who turn towards Him in sincere repentance. Know that right after accepting Islam and making sincere repentance, one becomes pure from his/her sins, as if he never committed a sin. For details read the Fataawa: 81467, 83145 and 86230.   Your marriage was lacking an important condition for its validity i.e. the approval of the guardian and being chaste.  We advise you to separate yourself immediately from your husband and after waiting one menstrual period you may renew the marriage contract fulfilling all the conditions of a legal marriage; see Fataawa: 86385 and 86841.

The ruling of illegitimate child is mentioned in our Fatwa: 84788.

We ask Allaah to bless you, facilitate your way in adherence to Islam and grant you steadfastness on His religion.

Allaah knows best.