Sharʿī Ruling on a Muslim Man Marrying a Christian or Jewish Woman
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Nikāḥ ke Masāʾil, Volume 1, Page 310
Is it permissible for a Muslim man to marry a Christian or Jewish woman while she continues to follow her own religion?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
Yes, such a marriage is permissible. The evidence is the statement of Allah ﷻ in Sūrah al-Māʾidah, verse 5:
﴿ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتُۖ وَطَعَامُ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ حِلّٞ لَّكُمۡ وَطَعَامُكُمۡ حِلّٞ لَّهُمۡۖ وَٱلۡمُحۡصَنَٰتُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ وَٱلۡمُحۡصَنَٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ﴾
(al-Māʾidah: 5)
“This day all good things have been made lawful for you. The food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from the believing women, and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture before you.”
◈ Marriage with women from the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) is permissible, provided that they are chaste and modest.
◈ The woman’s continuing to follow her own religion does not invalidate the marriage.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil – Nikāḥ ke Masāʾil, Volume 1, Page 310
Question:
Is it permissible for a Muslim man to marry a Christian or Jewish woman while she continues to follow her own religion?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
Yes, such a marriage is permissible. The evidence is the statement of Allah ﷻ in Sūrah al-Māʾidah, verse 5:
﴿ٱلۡيَوۡمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ ٱلطَّيِّبَٰتُۖ وَطَعَامُ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ حِلّٞ لَّكُمۡ وَطَعَامُكُمۡ حِلّٞ لَّهُمۡۖ وَٱلۡمُحۡصَنَٰتُ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِ وَٱلۡمُحۡصَنَٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ﴾
(al-Māʾidah: 5)
“This day all good things have been made lawful for you. The food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from the believing women, and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture before you.”
Explanation:
◈ Marriage with women from the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) is permissible, provided that they are chaste and modest.
◈ The woman’s continuing to follow her own religion does not invalidate the marriage.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
