She has herpes and wants to marry
Fatwa No: 156813

Question

I am a revert. I have herpes and HPV. I am unmarried. Am I obligated to reveal this to a potential husband and if so when should I reveal it? I am concerned I will be alone forever.

Answer

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.

First of all, we thank and praise Allaah Who guided you to Islam and we ask Him to make you firm and steadfast on His Religion until the Day you meet Him.

Dear sister, we advise you to seek beneficial knowledge, perform good deeds and befriend righteous and pious women, as these are the best things that help a Muslim woman remain steadfast on her religion.

As regards your question, if your disease is among the contagious diseases or repulsive ones which prevent the objective of marriage being fulfilled, then you are obligated to inform the person who proposes to marry you otherwise you would be cheating him. Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: “Whoever cheats us is not one of us.” [Muslim]

Hence, you should endeavor to treat yourself and you should not despair as Allaah may facilitate for you the cure as there is no disease except that it has a cure. Also, Allaah may facilitate for you the marriage even with this disease (i.e. someone may agree to marry you as you are), so you should supplicate Him.

As regards when to inform the person who proposes to marry you, then it is when he comes to propose to you so that he would be aware about the matter [and decide accordingly]. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 86070 and 82275.

Allaah Knows best.

Related Fatwa