What is your opinion on regarding a Muslim man, who acknowledged before an official body that he had married a Muslim woman and admitted to having consummated the marriage and lived with her as husband and wife? This account was confirmed by the woman, her father, and her maternal uncle. The man subsequently retracted his statement before another official body, claiming that it had merely been a promise of marriage. Is the man’s denial after having acknowledged the marriage effective under Islamic law?

If the facts are as described, the man’s denial after acknowledging the marriage has no effect under Islamic law.

And Allah Almighty knows best.