Marriage to Non-Muslim Man
Why a Muslim Woman Is Not Allowed to Marry a Non-Muslim Man
Question and answer from IslamOnline.net:
Name of Questioner: Zenab
Question:
Dear Sheikhs, As-Salamu `alaykum. I would like to know why a woman is not allowed to marry a non-Muslim man while a Muslim man can marry a Jewish or Christian lady? What is the wisdom of that? Jazakum Allah khayran.
Date: 28/Sep/2003
Name of Muftis: Yusuf Al-Qaradawi and Muhammad `Ali Al-Hanooti
Answer:
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear sister in Islam, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.
First of all, it is to be stressed that Islam does not encourage the interfaith marriages. The general rule of Islam is that Muslims should marry Muslims. A Muslim male or female should not marry a non-Muslim male or female. The only exception is given to Muslim men who are allowed to marry the chaste girls from among the People of the Book.
However, a Muslim woman is better suited to a Muslim man than a woman of Christian or Jewish faith, regardless of her merits. This is because marriage is not based on fulfilling one’s sexual desires; rather, it is an institution. It aims to establish a home on the bases of tranquility, faith, and Islamic morals. To fulfill this task, the whole family must apply Allah’s course and try to convey His message.
It is obvious that Islam made it impermissible for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim with aim of keeping her away from things that may jeopardize her faith. In fact, Islam aims at protecting religion. To achieve this goal, it prohibits a Muslim from being involved in something that represents a threat to his religion. A Muslim woman will not feel that her religion is secure while being with a Jewish or a Christian husband especially as the majority of the People of the Book do not show due respect to our Prophet, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).
Allah Almighty says: “And the Jews will not be pleased with thee, nor will the Christians, till thou follow their creed. Say: Lo! The guidance of Allah (Himself) is Guidance. And if thou shouldst follow their desires after the knowledge which hath come unto thee, then wouldst thou have from Allah no protecting friend nor helper.” (Al-Baqarah: 120)
Given the fact that the husband is generally the head of the household, it's not far-fetched for a non-Muslim husband to prevent his Muslim wife from performing some Islamic rituals which may seem a nuisance to him, for example fasting, or even refraining from marital relations during the fast. As a result, he might force her to change her religion, and if she refuses, the situation may culminate in divorce.
As for why Islam allows a Muslim man to marry a Christian or Jewish woman, it's clear that every Muslim believes in Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them) and he holds all the Prophets of Allah in high esteem. Thus a Muslim finds no harm in his wife’s being a Christian or a Jew, for the spirit of tolerance Islam holds for other religions is ingrained in him.
In his response to the question you raised, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hanooti, member of the North American Fiqh Council, states:
"If Allah is the one who prohibits a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim, then we as Muslims are supposed to believe it and to take it. As a matter of faith, you cannot become a Muslim unless you accept everything when it is ordained by Allah or carried out by his Messenger. The Qur'an says, "O Ye who believe! Put not yourselves forward before Allah and His Messenger…" (Al-Hujurat: )
If you ask about the benefits of not marrying a non-Muslim, we can count you many reasons. A man is the manager of his household. He will persecute his Muslim wife in many dos and don'ts. She can hardly guarantee that kind of operation. Moreover, marriage is an institution for elevating our levels of having a good Islamic life. Pleasing Allah is our number one goal. If a woman is married to a non-Muslim, maybe the only thing she will accomplish in her marital life is what is good for livestock."
Shedding more light on the question, we'd like to cite the words of the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheik Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, in his well-known book, The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam:
"It is haram for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man, regardless of whether he is of the People of the Book or not. We have already mentioned the saying of Allah, "...and do not marry (your girls) to idolaters until they believe..." (Al-Baqarah: 221)
And He said concerning the immigrant Muslim women: "Then if you know them to be Believers, do not send them back to the unbelievers. They are not lawful for them (as wives), nor are they lawful for them (as husbands)." (Al-Mumtahanah: 10)
No text exists which makes exceptions for the People of the Book. Hence, on the basis of the above verses, there is a consensus among Muslims concerning this prohibition.
Thus, while a Muslim man is permitted to marry a Christian or Jewish woman, a Muslim woman is not allowed to marry a Christian or Jewish man. There are many sound reasons for this difference. First, the man is the head of the household, the one who maintains the family, and he is responsible for his wife. And while Islam guarantees freedom of belief and practice to the Christian or Jewish wife of a Muslim, safeguarding her rights according to her own faith, other religions, such as Judaism and Christianity, do not guarantee the wife of a different faith freedom of belief and practice, nor do they safeguard her rights. Since this is the case, how can Islam take chances on the future of its daughters by giving them into the hands of people who neither honor their religion nor are concerned to protect their rights?
A marriage between a man and woman of different faiths can be based only on the husband's respect for his wife's beliefs; otherwise, a good relationship can never develop. Now, the Muslim believes that both Judaism and Christianity originated in divine revelation, although later distortions were introduced into them. He also believes that God revealed the Tawrah to Moses and the Injeel to Jesus and that both Moses and Jesus (peace be on them) were among the Messengers of Allah who were distinguished by their steadfast determination.
Accordingly, the Christian or Jewish wife of a Muslim lives under the protection of a man who respects the basic tenets of her faith, her Scripture, and her Prophets, while in contrast to this the Jew or Christian recognizes neither the Divine origin of Islam, its Book, or its Prophet (peace be on him).
How then could a Muslim woman live with such a man, while her religion requires of her the observance of certain worships, duties, and obligations, as well as certain prohibitions. It would be impossible for the Muslim woman to retain her respect for her beliefs as well as to practice her religion properly if she were opposed in this regard by the master of the house at every step.
It will be realized from this that Islam is consistent with itself in prohibiting the Muslim man to marry a mushrik (polytheist) woman, for since Islam is absolutely opposed to shirk (polytheism), it would obviously be impossible for two such people to live together in harmony and love."
Allah knows best.
*** End of answer from IslamOnline.net ***
I want to add to this a comment on this topic written by a Muslim sister going by the name Greetings on the Nairaland.com forum. I found her comment to be right on point:
Comment by Sister "Greetings":
Being a Muslim woman means submitting to Allah's will first. His love should come first in your heart, by so doing you choose a spouse that you know deep in your heart Allah is pleased with.
Apart from this,i believe that if you are a true and practicing Muslimah, you would find it hard to date, not to talk of marrying a non-Muslim. And do not enter into such relationships with something like "i can change him". Its a trap from shaytan.
If you do marry a non-Muslim, what it means is that ;
One, you gradually lose your spirituality and closeness to Allah. For Gods sake, the man that is supposed to wake u up for fajr is snoozing it away. The man that is meant to take you to usrah is on his way to church service. The man that is supposed to stop you from doing haram things doesn't even know what that means to begin with.
Two, you have conflicting interest, he doesn't understand your Islam like you do. For instance, you wake up in the morning and he says its action time, meanwhile its fajr time. He cannot understand why you would choose some morning exercise over him. It can gradually cause a rift.
Three, you just might eventually have to drop your Islam for him. Trust me, he will tell you, you can practice your deen, marry you and when you drop baby number one, he or his family members will tell you, you have to change or......... you can guess the remaining. At last, you either lose your marriage or your deen.
Lastly and most dangerously, your children and generations become confused beings, is it mummy or daddy's religion? Sometimes they become so confused they choose to become atheists. Cause they cant understand; if both your religion is better why did you marry each other. Trust me they will ridicule both religion in the long run.
My question with all these points is, so whats the point?
I hope from all my implicating points above, I have been able to convince and not confuse you that the only solution is to avoid at all cost marrying a non-Muslim.
Thank you.
I am very conflicted.
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
Thanks.
We live in America. Our daughter is planning on marrying an American kafir airborne soldier. We pray for his conversion to Islam and warn her or becoming an enemy of Allah by befriending Allah's enemy's. We have forbid this at every level but she ignores our warnings.
If she does marry this kafir what are we to do, rhetorically?
1) Is she still a Muslim?
2) Can she offer prayers with us?
3) Allah warns against the breaking of family ties. Do we break ties with the enemy's of Allah even if they are family?
What are we to do?
Please cite Sunnah and Surah in your reply.
May Allah guide us all and further reward your efforts.
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
a Non-mulim god loving Person...
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
So Muslims believe that a Muslim man can marry ANY jew or Christian lady. However this is an incorrect and incomplete belief.
Wait….. Don’t open your fatwa bank. Just read the complete article.
So even on the issue of marriage with Ahle-kitab; people don’t ponder over the Quran to seek guidance and blindly follow their set of scholars. Some Muslims believe that marriage with ALL jew / Christian lady is allowed even though she is a msuhrik!!!
Some Muslims believe that today marriage with Jew / Christian is NOT allowed at all!! So we see the different and contradictory ruling on the same matter because of abandoning Quran.
It is for whole mankind. Quran is not exclusive property of any particular sect, religion, group of race.
Quran contains clear proofs. The proofs given by Quran are self explanatory.
Quran is for guidance purpose. We MUST seek guidance from Quran.
Quran is the criterion – it means in any matter Quran will have the last say; what is right and what is wrong – what Quran decides will be final.
1. Marriage with msuhrik (One who associate partner with GOD) is not allowed – both for men and women. In no any case one can marry a person who associate partner with God. Quran 2:221
Surah Baqrah 2:173
Surah Maida 5:3
Surah Anam 6:145
Surah Nahal 16:115
So the proper understanding will be that pork is prohibited – no matter it is prepared by Muslims or Non Muslim. Rest of other halal food made by Ahle kitab is permitted.
2:173, 5:3, 6:145, 16:115 – makes clear that pork is prohibited in all cases.
2:221 – makes clear that marriage with mushrik is prohibited in all cases.
a. Prophet Jesus to be son of God.
b. Prophet Jesus to be God.
c. Trinity i.e. unification of 3 gods
…… or such thing that makes her mushrik then marriage with such ladies is NOT AT ALL allowed.
Practically speaking today – very few women will fall under this category with whom marriage is allowed.
2. Marriage with any mushrik is not allowed. No matter, male or female – marriage with them is not allowed in any case.
3. Marriage of Muslim man with ahle-kitab woman is allowed ONLY if she is NOT a mushrik. If she believes:
a. Prophet Jesus to be son of God.
b. Prophet Jesus to be God.
c. Trinity i..e unification of 3 gods
…… or such things that makes her msuhrik then marriage with such ladies is NOT AT ALL allowed.
4. Even if very few ladies (among ahle kitab) will fall under such category with which marriage is allowed, one MUST stick to the commandment of God.
Our marriage has been rough to say the least. Physically and emotionally abusive but I still have strong feelings towards him. I have made Istakhara on several occasions when things are bad. Regardless of how bad it has gotten, I find it hard to leave because my heart is content with staying but knowing that abuse in any form us unacceptable I can not bring myself to leave. Leaving just doesn't feel right. Since our marriage I find myself reaching for Allah's guidance more and more. Could this be taken as staying is the right thing to do?
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
She's pregnant with my baby.
What should I do?
Your help and guidance is required in the matter.
Jazakallah
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
Should I consider separation? Nothing is dearer to me then my prophet n my book. Not even my family.
Will I be committing a sin if I forgive and continue with the relationship?
Shahid and i have some questions.Is she still drinking Alcohol and eating pork??
because how can one Muslim live with such a Women?
I would says try this she convert to Islam,but of course not with force,you only ask her.
And now too why Islam against to marry a non-Muslim, because were you onetime thinking what can happening if you have a Child?(Like you wrote she is pregnant.)
As example if it come to a Divorce she definelly will get your Child and then the Child will be educated to a non Muslim and you too will get sin for this.
Pray to Allah this your Christian Wife will convert to Islam,if she refuse dont end the marriage,first speak to a Mufti/Sheikh who can give Fatwas and ask him what to do.
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
About the Religion of the Childs the can be Muslim but i dont think so ,that will happening because most time i listened about such marriage was that the Muslim Women has given up theire Religion afterwards and even if the Husband would says for him it is not a problem if the Childs will be educated as Muslim,still you have to separate from him because like i says more time now.In Islam a Women cant marry a - non Muslim.He have to convert to Islam and than you have to make Nikah,than it is ok(but you have to pray to Allah forever and asking Allah for forgiveness for what you have done),but after what you were written it is Haraam and you have to end your Relationships.
There is no other way.Converting and Nikah or finish the relationship.