The Return of the Missing Person
Question
In this area a few such incidents have also occurred. The common people ask: supposing this woman’s first husband comes back, should she then stay with the first-mentioned husband or with the latter?
Answer
In the case described, if the first husband comes, the second nikah will be deemed non-existent, and the woman will go back to the first husband himself; but intercourse and the like with her is not permissible for him until the ‘idda from the second husband has passed.
Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya
Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.