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I became Muslim last year while I was legally separated from my (non-Muslim) husband. Our legal divorce is mutual and still being processed. Does that prohibit me from getting a Nikah done with a Muslim man?

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    So it has been a year since you became Muslim, and before you becoming Muslim, you were already separated?
    – Sayyid
    Aug 26, 2014 at 23:47
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    even if you were married, if you accepted Islam, but your husband not, in eyes of Islam, your marriage would be considered INVALID. However, country laws is a different matter. i'll provide answer asap i get online references.
    – kmonsoor
    Apr 30, 2015 at 7:04

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In Islam a separation does not equal a divorce (similar in other religions). So you are legally married and you cannot be married to more than one person - legally or religiously.

Once you are divorced, you may then marry a Muslim man.

In Islam the "legal marriage" has little consequence, it is done for practical reasons. The "nikah" (marriage contract) is all that is required.

In most Muslim countries, the Nikah is the same as a legal marriage - that is, the Nikah document is your marriage certificate.

However in other countries you can get a legal marriage (also called a court marriage, civil marriage), and the religious one. In this case, as far as Islam is concerned, only the Nikah is binding. So if you both signed the Nikah you are now husband and wife, even if you did your civil/legal marriage at a later date.

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  • If she is divorced legally then she is also divorced islamically.
    – Syed Anas
    Aug 28, 2014 at 5:05
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    Except she isn't, she is separated which is not the same as divorced.
    – Burhan Khalid
    Aug 28, 2014 at 6:56
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    after she accepted Islam, but her husband not, does her marriage stands VALID in islamic POV ?
    – kmonsoor
    Apr 30, 2015 at 7:05
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Until divorce is finalized, you are married to that person. Since your divorce is a mutual understanding, just wait a little longer and start your new life clean. Good luck.

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Well from a shari'a point of view you are legally divorced because: You separated from your husband and you converted to Islam and afterwards at least one waiting period has passed. This would mean from this point of view you are free for marriage!

But as you seem to live in a non-Muslim country it would be the best to have at least a document which clearly shows you and your husband are separated of course a divorce document would be better in any case! You will know your Ex-Husband better but you might have to be aware that a Nikah could mean that the divorce process would have some changing lines which could end against you!

Also read the fatwa #114722 on islamqa.

And Allah knows best!

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