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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

5 months pregnant and found out my husband lied about his past

233 replies

Saraahh · 15/12/2024 04:34

Hi, just looking for some general advice tbh on how to get over this…

Me 24/F and my husband 29/M have been married since August 2023 and expecting our first child in April. We’re both Muslim and have had struggles in our marriage but recently have been the best we’ve ever been.

However a few days ago I came across a lot of things on his phone (pictures, messages etc) about his past. When we got married I was a virgin and he was adamant he was too and marrying a virgin seemed like a huge deal to him and a deal breaker if I wasn’t. He even once said if he found out I wasn’t a virgin after marriage he’d ask for an annulment.

The things I came across on his phone broke my heart… He had a long term gf who was sleeping with what seemed like regularly which I had no idea about. There was also a lot of other things I found but that was the one that struck me the most. I feel like I’ve been betrayed and the whole marriage was a lie.

I don’t doubt his love for me and I get the past is the past but my heart genuinely feels like it’s been ripped out my chest. Not to mention I’m carrying his baby. I wouldn’t have cared as much if I knew the truth from the beginning but now it feels like everything was a lie, our first experience together etc.

I love him more than anything and that hasn’t changed but I just CANNOT get over the heart ache. Every time he tells me he loves me, every time he touches me, compliments me, even when I look at him I just picture him with someone else because all these things where I thought I was his first isn’t true.

What hurts even more is that I almost got raped years ago and got stabbed and beaten black a blue but I still managed to keep my virginity. And to think I fought so hard for that, when he didn’t and then lied about it for 2 years just really really hurts.

I want to leave the past in the past and move on but it’s so hard, I just don’t know how to get over it so any advice would be great thanks… He’s been trying so hard to make me happy and forget about it and I do believe his actions and love is genuine.

I’m starting to think I’m the problem, I keep getting these obsessive thoughts, I feel like I can’t even be intimate with him without having a breakdown after because of all the thoughts and images going through my head. I suffer with anxiety and depression anyways, but this situation has completely tipped me over the edge… I genuinely believe if it wasn’t for my son I’m carrying I would have done something stupid to myself because I physically can’t handle the pain. The heart ache feels like torture and it’s turning into physical pain.

He also told me he’s never loved anyone before but I found so much evidence saying otherwise… Everything he does and says now just reminds me of these other girls and it makes me feel so stupid and like a fool. I’ve never felt this type of pain in my life.

I’ve barely been able to sleep and when I do I keep getting horrible dreams and wake up extremely depressed. We’ve taken some time alone and away from in laws the last few days to try deal with the situation and I want to move on and forget so bad but it feels like it’s engraved in my brain. I keep having emotional break downs and I’ve never cried so hard in my life, and I feel so guilty because I don’t want to harm my baby either. I have PCOS and severe endometriosis so getting pregnant was tough as I've also had 3 miscarriages.

Any suggestions on how to make this better? Thank you.

OP posts:
Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:15

Wallywobbles · 15/12/2024 12:30

You will never be in a stronger negotiating position than now. Insist that you both move out NOW into your own place to work on your issues. That you also have individual and joint counseling with someone of your choice. Do you research. If he can't pull that off then it's over.

There is not a prayer that you will be allowed to move out once you've had the baby.

We can't afford to move out right now and we're both against renting... I just started my teacher training in September and doing my PGCE as well, so unfortunately I don't get mat pay either 😭

OP posts:
Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:16

Temphelp · 15/12/2024 12:31

I’m Muslim and have been in a somewhat similar position. Will give you some advice that helped me:

  1. immediately, sort out marital counselling. Whether it is through your local mosque or an organisation like Sukoon, your husband needs to commit to this now otherwise he will think lying is appropriate.

  2. the past is the past, we shouldn’t hold people against it and it’s understandable to not want to share certain things we’ve done that we are not proud of. Where your husband went wrong is his obsession with virginity when he himself was sleeping around. He needs to take accountability of this and get out of this mindset (which can be changed only if the man takes responsibility).

  3. make clear boundaries asap. Asap. Can’t stress this enough!

  4. don’t blame yourself, and don’t obsess over things like virginity. There are so much bigger things to worry about in the world right now, so many other qualities that matter more inside us. Don’t be afraid to seek help and support, especially in this vulnerable state.

i will stress it again - your husband needs to take accountability and sort this out otherwise your marriage will struggle.

Praying it gets easier for you. X

Thank you so much for this! He suggested marital counselling but I wasn't sure how I felt about it, I might give it a go though. No harm in trying I guess?

OP posts:
Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:18

Mummabear04 · 15/12/2024 12:22

I'm really sorry this has happened OP. It sounds very stressed for you. Do you have anyone you trust that you could talk to? A friend or a sister maybe? Do you need to stay in the marriage? Do you want to stay with him? You have every right to be upset about this and you are allowed to feel everything you are feeling in processing what's happened. I hope you're OK x

He said he was given advice from an Islamic scholar, and Islam does also say to conceal your previous sins... I think what bugs me the most is why make such a deal over it with me? Say I wasn't a virgin and lied about it (which is much harder to lie about as a girl!) and he found out I'm sure he'd be extremely angry and probably divorce me

OP posts:
Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:20

Ughn0tryte · 15/12/2024 12:46

Was it an arranged marriage? Was there things that your and his family stipulated before meeting?
This isn't something I would keep to myself. He's deceitful and by keeping this between you, allows him to continue to be so.
Contact someone you trust within your faith and discuss his lies.
Also talk to your family and ask how they would approach this.
Your baby is everyone's priority and in a few months time people will be surrounding you and your child with gifts etc whilst you heal. It's important that this isn't swept under the carpet.

It was an arranged marriage, but in the sense that we just got introduced to each other and then we had free rein to do what we wanted to with that.

We don't openly discuss virginity as it's something that's assumed we'd both have anyways especially going down the arranged route...

I definitely cannot tell my family because they'll hate him and force me to leave him which I don't want, not to mention defaming his character and his family.

OP posts:
Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:21

crumblingschools · 15/12/2024 12:57

He’s horrendously misogynistic. Was this previous relationship with a Muslim girl? If you told your DH you had had a previous relationship how would he react now?
Are you legally married?

His previous relationship was with a Muslim girl yes... We've had our nikkah (Islamic marriage) but not the registry yet...

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 15/12/2024 13:25

@Saraahh Aargh this sounds like “Tess of the d’Urbervilles”

Angel Clare ( man) made a massive fuss about Tess ( woman) being a pure virgin while he himself had previous partners.

Double standards.

Up to you what you want to do next.

Eyresandgraces · 15/12/2024 13:26

You really thought a 28 year old man was a virgin?
I find this a bit naive.

However it sounds like your dh is doing everything to help resolve your concerns. Would you have married him if you’d known?
If the answer is yes then what has really changed?
Personally I don’t think you have any right to know about his sexual past, he is a hypocrite though.

Liveandforget · 15/12/2024 13:28

Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:21

His previous relationship was with a Muslim girl yes... We've had our nikkah (Islamic marriage) but not the registry yet...

I am Muslim also. You're having a baby together, you really need to be legally protected via a legal UK Marriage. You won't have any legal protection with the nikah only

Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:30

Eyresandgraces · 15/12/2024 13:26

You really thought a 28 year old man was a virgin?
I find this a bit naive.

However it sounds like your dh is doing everything to help resolve your concerns. Would you have married him if you’d known?
If the answer is yes then what has really changed?
Personally I don’t think you have any right to know about his sexual past, he is a hypocrite though.

I had my doubts in the back of my mind but he swore he was... I told him at the beginning if he wasn't a virgin I don't care but I just want honesty, I would have still married him. It's just the double standards bothering me tbh

OP posts:
Iwanttoliveonamountain · 15/12/2024 13:33

all will be well for you both.

TheClawDecides · 15/12/2024 13:35

Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:18

He said he was given advice from an Islamic scholar, and Islam does also say to conceal your previous sins... I think what bugs me the most is why make such a deal over it with me? Say I wasn't a virgin and lied about it (which is much harder to lie about as a girl!) and he found out I'm sure he'd be extremely angry and probably divorce me

He said he was given advice from an Islamic scholar, and Islam does also say to conceal your previous sins

So if it's ok for a man to tell bare faced lies to get a woman to marry him, why isn't it ok in reverse?

DepartingRadish · 15/12/2024 13:36

You must get your marriage registered if you are planning to stay with him. Your nikkah gives you no legal protection at all.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/12/2024 13:39

He's clearly a man who's happy to lie in order to control you and get what he wants. That's not love. You are not ever going to have any kind of equal relationship with him - he has shown that he absolutely doesn't think you should have the same rights and freedoms as him

The first two sentences are sadly true; the third could be changed, but as said only if he wants to make the effort

And I worry that this is another case of attitudes coming to the fore once the children arrive, and becoming more entrenched as the wife's perceived to be "trapped"

MaggieBsBoat · 15/12/2024 13:42

You can’t ever trust this man.
He has rules for him and rules for you.
He is a misogynist.
You are living with his family and have no emotional space.

It’s all awful.
you need counselling if you can carry on with him. But imo, you are doomed if you stay with him. It takes being an utter shit of a person to behave the way he has and I very much doubt he can change.

NewGreenDuck · 15/12/2024 13:42

If you are staying with him then you must have a civil ceremony. Your nikkah does not confer any legal protection on you. Why did you not do that immediately after the nikkah? Is that his idea too?

Panickingnowhelp · 15/12/2024 13:44

Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:18

He said he was given advice from an Islamic scholar, and Islam does also say to conceal your previous sins... I think what bugs me the most is why make such a deal over it with me? Say I wasn't a virgin and lied about it (which is much harder to lie about as a girl!) and he found out I'm sure he'd be extremely angry and probably divorce me

Because he is misogynistic. Just for the fact he went on so much about you being a virgin would have made me sick, he thinks women are less than men. I hope your child isn't raised with the same views as him

SuperfluousHen · 15/12/2024 13:44

Saraahh · 15/12/2024 12:26

Yeah I do want to stay with him, especially as we're having a child together... He's not done anything since we've been together to betray my trust. I'm a bit reluctant to speak to other people about it as I don't want them viewing him in a bad way.

I just feel like my mental health has plummeted tbh

He's not done anything since we've been together to betray my trust.”

except he’s lied and lied and lied again. 😢
So sorry, OP you married a liar. 😢

Ohnonotmeagain · 15/12/2024 13:48

Unfortunately it is very common for Muslim men to be allowed to behave this way, while girls stay chaste.

all of my Muslim male friends at uni had girlfriends. All were “in love” and all were having sex, even living with the girl in some cases. Blind eyes would be turned.

then graduation, families would arrange marriages and the “girlfriends” would be ditched.

i echo the poster above, definitely try counselling. Your mosque may be a better bet as they may help you understand the cultural pressures on him (and you). If it doesn’t work for you you can always try non religious counselling later.

Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:49

NewGreenDuck · 15/12/2024 13:42

If you are staying with him then you must have a civil ceremony. Your nikkah does not confer any legal protection on you. Why did you not do that immediately after the nikkah? Is that his idea too?

Yeah the start of our marriage was rocky and I feel like he expected us to break up if I'm honest... He doesn't see why we need a registry but I've been asking for it from the start... I said whatever happens I need it done before the baby is born but he's still a bit iffy...

OP posts:
Annabella92 · 15/12/2024 13:50

CitizenZ · 15/12/2024 12:42

He put so much importance on you being a virgin, threatening annulment if you were not, all the time knowing that he was telling you lies and having double standards. I'd do to him exactly what he threatened to do to you. LTB.

This sadly

SuperfluousHen · 15/12/2024 13:51

Saraahh · 15/12/2024 13:30

I had my doubts in the back of my mind but he swore he was... I told him at the beginning if he wasn't a virgin I don't care but I just want honesty, I would have still married him. It's just the double standards bothering me tbh

The double standards should bother you, OP. This is just wrong on so many levels. 😕

NotOneOfTheInCrowd · 15/12/2024 13:53

OP what were the issues before this?

you say the marriage was already rocky, why?

Liveandforget · 15/12/2024 13:54

Annabella92 · 15/12/2024 13:50

This sadly

He is a very bad bet as a husband, just for this reason alone. You must insist on this.

I won't even get started on his lying and deception of you....

NewGreenDuck · 15/12/2024 13:54

I'm sorry to say this, but I really think you are going to end up being very badly treated by this man. He has lied to you, he won't find accommodation just for you both and he won't marry you in a civil ceremony to give you legal protection. None of this looks good.
It does not matter what he says to you, it's what he does that matters. And he's not behaving well.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 15/12/2024 13:54

He said he was given advice from an Islamic scholar, and Islam does also say to conceal your previous sins

Convenient isn't it? Sad
Except that the "concealing" is supposed to reflect the believer's personal journey and repentance with Allah, and also applies to women ... which is hardly in line with his views about your own virginity

TBH this sounds to me like another case of picking bits to suit according to culture rather than religion, and rather than "not being able to afford to move out" I'd suggest you can't afford not to
The alternative is becoming further enmeshed in these hideous attitides, but the choice has to be yours

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