Husband cheating on wife with married woman

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

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Sister in Islam,

We note the contents of the email. We ask Allah Ta’ala to grant you Sabr in this difficult time.

The relationship your husband has with a married woman is Haram (absolutely prohibited). The relationship is Zina (adultery) which is a major sin and is punishable by stoning to death in a country ruled by Shariah. Furthermore, the woman is married. The relationship is interfering with someone’s marital life which is another major sin.

You cannot simply accept the wrong he is doing. If you do that, you too will be sinful. You have a duty in Shariah to stop him from his Haram relationship. You should even contact the woman with whom he has a relationship and advise her. If need be, you should inform her husband of her extra marital relationship. Rasullullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalam) said:

مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ،

وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الْإِيمَانِ (مسلم:78)

Translation: “Whoever sees a wrong being perpetrated, he should prevent it with his hand. If he is unable to, then with his tongue. If he is unable to, then with his heart and that is the weakest form of faith.”

Accordingly, you should do whatever is possible to stop the Haram committed by your husband and the married woman. In fact, you should put pressure on him to leave him if he does not desist Haram. Tell him that you’ll are Muslims and you are meaningful in your response. If you do not stop him from the Haram, the curse and anger of Allah Ta’ala will fall on both of you.

We also advise you to consult senior family members to intervene in the matter if your husband does not heed your advice.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mahmood Suliman

Student Darul Iftaa
Gaborone, Botswana

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.