When most people hear the term “sham marriages,” they think of marriages entered into to achieve a certain selfish aim by one or both of the parties involved. Fake marriages are typically created to accomplish any purpose other than starting a family together.

Fake marriages are usually made with the knowledge and consent of both parties. But what if I told you that many people today are in sham marriages without even realizing it? As surprising as this may sound, it is true.

To further explain this point, I would need to redefine sham marriages from another perspective.

What Is a Sham Marriage?

A sham marriage is a union of two very incompatible people. People assume approval from those around them, and also assume that mutual attraction will lead to a true marriage.

Couples also mistake ordainment from the church or any religious denomination as God’s blessing on their marriage. 

However, having the approval of the church or relatives does not mean that two people are each other’s soulmates. Neither does mutual attraction. True soulmates are connected on a deeper level, sharing a profound emotional, intellectual, and spiritual bond that goes beyond external validation.

Fake marriages always start to unravel after a few months because they are never destined to last, no matter how much work is put into these kinds of marriages.

To make it easier to spot sham marriages, here are some signs to look out for:

• Consistent conflicts
• Emotional detachment
• One-sided commitment
• Lack of communication and understanding
• Cheating/Adultery
• Sexual dissatisfaction

Why Do Fake Marriages Exist?

One of the major reasons for fake marriages is unpaid karmic debt. Some karmic debts have to be paid through marriage, turning many marriages today into a life sentence rather than a commitment.

Sham marriages involve unending suffering that serves to resolve past obligations. The only way to end a fake marriage is to separate and eventually divorce.For most sham marriages, divorce is inevitable—and it is actually not a bad thing. No true marriage can end in divorce, so any marriage headed for divorce is certainly a false one.