Dear Hadi,
اَلسَلامُ عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اَللهِ وَبَرَكاتُهُ
I’m in a relationship with a non-Muslim woman.
We live together, and everyone knows we are in a relationship. We are not formally married, but we do everything for each other like a married couple.
She was previously married and not officially divorced but is separated.
She is of Catholic background but believes in the one God of the Old Testament and does actually believe in Muhammad s.a.w. as a prophet.
Everyone knows us as married, but are we really?
Dear Am I Married?,
We’re sorry to tell you that we do not believe you are in a valid marriage, or any marriage at all for that matter.
Your partner is still legally married to someone else.
That fact alone makes your relationship not a valid marriage, whether legally or Islamically.
An Islamic marriage requires a specific intent of marriage, a proposal, an acceptance, witnesses, and a dowry.
Just the fact that people think you’re married does not make you married, either Islamically or legally.
If you are intent on continuing this relationship and are interested in doing so in an Islamic manner, she should officially divorce her husband, and afterward, the two of you could pursue getting married in a valid manner that recognizes both the rights and responsibilities of husband and wife in the eyes of the law and of God.
In peace.