Question
i did my paper marriage in 2008 without anyone knows it.i want to cancel this marriage now what can i do?my partner did not give me that paper.he told me this paper is nothing you are not my wife and you are not in my nikha and i have no copy of that.can i do another marriage without cancel that paper.is this paper is important?i am afraid that one day he comes and spoil my life.so what can i do?reply argently
Answer
In Islam there is no such thing as a “paper marriage” as the very connotation of “paper marriage” is that of a fraud. Clearly, Islam would not recognize it of any value and will also consider it a fraud. These types of arrangements allow unfit people to engage in pseudo-marriages that do not fulfill some of the most basic aspects of a relationship. Nevertheless, you should know that such a “marriage” is invalid and has no legal bearing. You have nothing to cancel as you were not married and what he says is true that the paper is meaningless. If he knew all along that such an arrangement is insignificant then he betrayed your relationship from the start and deceived you along the way. Those are just a couple of negative possibilities leaving at least one person without legal recourse.
The most important aspect to all of this is accepting your error and imploring God for forgiveness. After that, there is little to do other than a clean break.
I hope this helps.
God knows best.