Anonymous
May 5, 06:49 AM
DO NOT EXPOSE WOMEN'S PAST
1
A man came to Umar ibn al-Khattab and said: "I had a daughter who was buried alive in pre-Islamic days, but I managed to rescue her before she died. She embraced Islam, but subsequently committed a grave sin
(of fornication). She took a blade to kill herself. I only reached her after she had cut some vein close to her throat. I treated her until she fully recovered. Then she repented well. Now I am receiving proposals of marriage with her. Should I tell the suitor of her past?"
• Umar said to him: "Do you want to tell of her past? Do you expose what God has kept covered? By God, if you tell any person about her [sexual| past I shall make of you an example for the people of all regions. Give her in marriage like a chaste Muslim woman!"
•[Related in al-Tabari's commentary on the Quran
Extracts from a taste of honey by Habib Akande
