Don't air your dirty laundry in public, a Mufti's perspective and advice on marriage confidentiality

SHAH ALAM - Married Muslim couples should not share their marriage woes openly with strangers or the public, as it might cause more harm than good.

Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Dr Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor said there are legal and ethical ramifications to disclosing marital secrets, emphasising that it's prohibited in Islam.

"Islamic principles discourage married couples from openly sharing the intricacies of their relationships, as it could effect the stability of the union unless compelled by unavoidable circumstances.

He advised the prudent publication of only necessary facts in situations where disclosure becomes necessary, such as when seeking counsel from experienced people.

"Islam regards the relationship between husband and wife as something precious and says that the union needs to be well guarded by both spouses.

"Thus, its purity and harmony must be preserved and protected from all elements that can harm it or that can undermine its stability,” he told Sinar Daily.

Wan Salim said the trend of individuals fabricating stories to deliberately sow seeds of suspicion between spouses is quite concerning.

Due to the possibility of deception and the detrimental impact on marital trust, he issued a warning against sharing intimate matters on social media or other open forums.

He advised couples who had any issues with their life partner not to publicise it or share it with others through social media or any other public information channel.

He therefore encouraged couples experiencing difficulties to seek the advice of reputable and licenced marriage counsellors instead of airing out their marriage problems in public.

Wan Salim said that considering separation should be the last resort and that Muslim couples need to adhere to Islamic laws governing the dissolution of marriage.

"Couples should always strive in the event that the marriage is dissolved to make it amicable and cordial," he said.

Wan Salim was responding to a case that went viral on social media recently where an anonymous local man shared his marital woes and discovered that his wife was having an affair with her female best friend.

The man had discovered his wife's romantic involvement with the friend by going through her WhatsApp messages and social media accounts.