Navigating Trust in Marriage: When Honesty Feels Elusive
Assalamu Alaikum everyone. I got married about a year ago through an arrangement, alhamdulillah. The first few months were truly beautiful. My husband (26) was wonderful, very open, and we shared everything-from stories about his friends to his past experiences. He's a heavy cigarette smoker, and when I mentioned I wasn't comfortable with drugs, he assured me he stayed away from all that. But a few months in, I found out he was smoking (cigarettes). I was unsure how to handle it, so I just asked him to please try and leave the habit. Astaghfirullah, I ended up trying it myself. Shortly after, I became pregnant. He remained very caring and open, but I suffered a miscarriage a month and a half later. Something changed in me after that. I started needing his constant reassurance and began overanalyzing his actions, uncovering several lies. For instance, on a trip for our anniversary, he had invited other people without telling me, which led to a very difficult situation. I spent the night in tears, worried he might have been unfaithful. From there, arguments became more frequent. I discovered he watches inappropriate content online. I understand this is not permissible, and I told him he could be honest with me about it, but he denied it-even though I saw evidence on his phone. I also found contacts for massage parlors in his blocked list, though he claimed he never visited such places after our wedding. He still tells me he loves and cares for me, but only if I don't question him about anything. How can I live like this, always wondering if he's telling the truth or making things up? We've had a couple of severe arguments, and now I see him as a completely different person. When we're alone together, everything can seem perfect-he's kind and gentle, as long as I don't upset him. But if anyone else is around, like his family, his attention shifts entirely to them. He isn't very independent but tries to support me and meet my needs, which is why I rarely ask for much, only when I truly need help. I've been trying to focus on myself and my deen again, but my anxiety won't settle. The men in my life have often let me down; I hoped my husband would be my protector, but he is dealing with his own struggles. Please make du'a for me.