As-Salaam alaikum,
I was approached about rulings on a marriage situation and I said that I would look for an answer. Any help would be appreciated.
A couple who are Hanafi, in Pakistan, have a relative here trying to help them with some clarification.
A 26 year old female married a 40+ year old male. After a short time there were family disputes and the male was pressured by his family to pronounce 3 divorces over a period of months (the final talaq in the presence of her family). The girl moved back in with her family, but continued to speak with the man who ‘divorced’ her. Now after the man has distanced himself from the pressure of his family. the couple have moved back in together. (two weeks after the official final ‘divorce’)
Was the divorce legally binding in the first place even though there was there was coercion involved?
Is the young lady and man committing zina even though they, the couple consider themselves married (despite pronouncements)?
Any insight would help,
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
If they were both coerced and never had such intention as divorce then their marriage is perfectly valid and the burden of sin and undue interference between a husband and wife is on their families.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
