❖ Marriage with Women of the People of the Book (Jews & Christians) ❖
Authored by: Imrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
Reference: al-Mughnī, Tafsīr al-Māʾidah 5:5
It is permissible to marry chaste women from the People of the Book (i.e., Jews and Christians), as stated in the Noble Qur’an:
﴿وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ﴾
“And [lawful for you in marriage are] chaste women from those who were given the Scripture before you.”
[Sūrat al-Māʾidah: 5]
❖ Chastity is a Condition:
The verse clearly limits permissibility to "muḥṣanāt" (chaste women). If a woman from the People of the Book is not chaste, then marriage to her is not permissible.
➤ In the same verse, Allah further warns:
“And whoever disbelieves in faith, his deeds are rendered void.”
This implies a cautionary note:
If marrying such a woman may jeopardize one’s faith, then pursuing such a marriage is a grave mistake.
Hence, putting one’s faith at risk for something permissible is irrational and unwise.
➤ According to Imām Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله, there is no disagreement among scholars regarding the permissibility of marrying free (non-slave), chaste women from the People of the Book.
➤ The term “People of the Book” refers specifically to:
Zoroastrians (Majūs) are not considered People of the Book, and thus:
[al-Mughnī: 9/545–548]
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
Authored by: Imrān Ayyūb Lāhorī
Reference: al-Mughnī, Tafsīr al-Māʾidah 5:5
Ruling on Marrying Women from the People of the Book
It is permissible to marry chaste women from the People of the Book (i.e., Jews and Christians), as stated in the Noble Qur’an:
﴿وَٱلْمُحْصَنَـٰتُ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ﴾
“And [lawful for you in marriage are] chaste women from those who were given the Scripture before you.”
[Sūrat al-Māʾidah: 5]
Key Conditions:
❖ Chastity is a Condition:
The verse clearly limits permissibility to "muḥṣanāt" (chaste women). If a woman from the People of the Book is not chaste, then marriage to her is not permissible.
⚠ Spiritual Risk and Warning:
➤ In the same verse, Allah further warns:
“And whoever disbelieves in faith, his deeds are rendered void.”
This implies a cautionary note:
If marrying such a woman may jeopardize one’s faith, then pursuing such a marriage is a grave mistake.
- Preserving one's faith is an obligation.
- Marriage with such women is merely a permissibility (mubāḥ).
Hence, putting one’s faith at risk for something permissible is irrational and unwise.
Scholarly Consensus:
➤ According to Imām Ibn Qudāmah رحمه الله, there is no disagreement among scholars regarding the permissibility of marrying free (non-slave), chaste women from the People of the Book.
➤ The term “People of the Book” refers specifically to:
- Jews (Ahl al-Tawrāt)
- Christians (Ahl al-Injīl)
Zoroastrians (Majūs) are not considered People of the Book, and thus:
- It is not permissible to marry their women.
- The same ruling applies to all other non-believers outside of Judaism and Christianity.
[al-Mughnī: 9/545–548]
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
