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Fatwa CenterMarried a Christian Man and Had a Child Before He Became Muslim
Question
11 Years ago, I married a Christian man in American court, and 1 year later I went back to my country of origin to celebrate a wedding. But before that, I told him that he had to convert to Islam, Especially after my dead father visited me in my dream and he was beating me to death. Anyway, my husband was not really devoted, meaning that sometimes he prayed, sometime not, but he fasted. Now, he is really good, he learned a lot, and he is trying to be the best Muslim. Two years ago we went to Masjid to be Islamicly married. My questions are: was my marriage invalid all these years? Am I going to hell by marrying a Christian man even though I guided him to Islam? Is my son of 5 years an illegitimate child? Why I do not dream of my father; is he still cursing me? Please respond to my questions. I really need to know.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Marriage of a Muslim woman with a Christian man is forbidden and invalid according to the consensus of Muslim scholars; it is pure Zina (fornication or adultery). Considering it permissible and completing the marriage contract in a secular court is disbelief and apostasy from Islam except if the person is ignorant; in which case, he will be taught about it; if he does not accept, then he becomes a disbeliever.
Therefore, you should turn towards Allah in sincere repentance for what you committed during the past years, perform good deeds as much as possible hoping that Allah will forgive you. Know that if you married him after he had embraced Islam, then Praise be to Allah, the marriage is valid in this case.
The child who was born before your husband became Muslim is an illegitimate child for the above reason.
However, if your husband at the time of marriage was of the faith that marriage of a Christian man with a Muslim woman is permissible, then the child will be traced back to his father. As a general rule, every marriage contract according to the faith of a husband is lawful; the child from this marriage will be traced back to him even if the marriage is invalid in the Sharee'ah.
As for the dream about your father as mentioned in your question, then it is probably a reminder for you from Allah to repent and to be steadfast on the right path.
If you strictly follow Islam, urge your husband to keep on performing prayers, fasting and other fundamentals of the Sharee'ah, and rebuke him if he practices evil, then we hope that Allah will unite you with your father and make him pleased with you.
Allah knows best.
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