Islamic Ideology Council rejects wife’s right to annul marriage over husband’s 2nd marriage

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) declared that allowing a first wife to annul her marriage if her husband marries again without her consent contradicts Islamic principles.

This decision, announced on Wednesday, dismisses the legal clause permitting a woman to dissolve her marriage under such circumstances. According to the council, Islamic law does not support this provision, reaffirming its stance based on traditional interpretations of polygamy.

Moreover, the council deliberated on the inclusion of medical tests for conditions like thalassemia and infectious diseases in marriage contracts.

It decided that while such tests can be included as an optional feature in the contract, they cannot be mandated as a religious prerequisite for marriage.

During the meeting, the CII also addressed linguistic and ethical concerns. It emphasized that Islamic terms such as Salah (prayer), Ayah (verse), and Masjid (mosque) should remain untranslated into English to preserve their original Arabic meanings and avoid potential misinterpretation.

Finally, the council urged religious scholars and leaders to take a more active role in discouraging electricity theft, which it classified as both a violation of ethical values and an economic offense.