Can a Muslim marry to present-day Jew or Christian woman?

[Rehmat]

"Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they believe: A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allures you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But God beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind: That they may celebrate His praise." – Holy Qur’an 2:221

Traditionally, Muslim male has been allowed to marry a Christian or a Jew female – but a Muslim female is not allowed to marry non-Muslim male including ‘the people of the book’, is because wife in most societies, culturally, follow her husband’s religious traditions. so when a Muslim woman marries a non-Muslim man, she would be expected to follow his religion. this would also mean that the children that she will bring to life will also be non-Muslims. that’s why it is forbidden.

However, the current Jew and Christian societies represent those – of whom Muslims were warned 1400 years ago:

"Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou follow their form of religion. Say: 'The Guidance of Allah,-that is the (only)Guidance.' Were thou to follow their desires after the knowledge which hath
reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither Protector nor helper against Allah.” – Holy Qur’an, 2:120

The proven corruption of the Old and New Testaments - that the Jews are the best people for all times and all places and the denial of Jesus (as) and the many other false teachings are evidence of the false teachings and practices of the christians and the Jews.

Therefore, there is no need for a muslim to put himself into the trouble of marrying from ‘the people of the book’ of today, because most of them are corrupted, and Allah orders us to not take them as friends or protectors. We
must know that according to Islam most of ‘the people of the book (Jews and Christians)’ are perverted transgressors, deceiving and in some cases are hypocrites.

[Mary Carol]

It is permissible according to the Quran and Sunnah:

“Made lawful to you this day are At‑Tayyibaat [all kinds of Halaal (lawful) foods, which Allaah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits)]. The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before your time when you have given their due Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girlfriends”

[al-Maa’idah 5:5]


‘Abd-Allaah ibn Ahmad said:

I asked my father about a Muslim man who married a Christian or Jewish woman. He said: I do not like for him to do it, but if he does, then some of the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did that too.

Ahkaam Ahl al-Dhimmah, 2/794, 795.

[carol_au]

because most of them are corrupted, and Allah orders us to not take them as friends or protectors. We
must know that according to Islam most of ‘the people of the book (Jews and Christians)’ are perverted transgressors, deceiving and in some cases are hypocrites.

Rehmat I'm interested in knowing if you know many "people of the book?" today.

I won't discuss the rest, that is for Muslims to discuss and me to read :-). But I am interested in the idea of most of us who truly are "people of the book" being perverted transgressors, deceiving and in some cases hypocrites. Do you know any "people of the book" personally and what caused you to have this idea about us?

[islamirama]

Yes, you could say most of them are corrupted and want nothing but bad for Muslims. But then again you can also say most of the Muslims are corrupted as well today, How many follow Islam rather then imitate the non-Muslims in all unislamic and inappropriate behaviors. It's almost very hard to find a virgin Muslim youth these days or one that hasen't dated or had some kind of premarital relationship. How many Muslim leaders have lived up to their obligation to serve the people and not ripp the people off. The fact of the matter is that there's good and bad people everywhere, regradless of race, religion or gender.

With that said, I too think that it might not be possible to marry from the people of the book. I say this more so not becuase they are corrupt but rather that most christians take Jesus (peace be upon him) as son of God when when Abraham the father of all three religions (islam, judism, christianity) preached monotheism and worship in only ONE God. But nonetheless, It is a matter to asked from scholars not issue your own "fatwa" therefore, i say that i think it "may" not be possible becuase that's MY understanding of the matter is, not quoting any scholar for back up.

Anyways, in regards to marrying people of the book, this is what is said.

1. Firsty and foremost is that one should marry among Muslims to avoid any confrontations or qurrels in the future as well as to raise kids properly in good islamic environment.

2. If there's more muslim women in the society you live in and less muslim men then it becomes haram to marry people of the book, the Muslim women must be choosen first to marry.

3. if you marry from people of the book, Islam says that marry those who are chaste and righteous.

And yes, there's lot of good "people of the book" out there. Take orthodox jews who do not commit shirk(associating partners with Allah) and who don't recognize Israel's existance. There's good christians out there as well, remember that one girl in palestine that was bulldozed by Israelis while protesting for Palestine. Lot of good people out there, so inshallah lets not prejudge or generalize :)

May Allah guide us all (muslims and non-Muslims) to the right path and to deen of Allah.

[Buadam]

"Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they believe: A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allures you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But God beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind: That they may celebrate His praise." – Holy Qur’an 2:221

Traditionally, Muslim male has been allowed to marry a Christian or a Jew female – but a Muslim female is not allowed to marry non-Muslim male including ‘the people of the book’, is because wife in most societies, culturally, follow her husband’s religious traditions. so when a Muslim woman marries a non-Muslim man, she would be expected to follow his religion. this would also mean that the children that she will bring to life will also be non-Muslims. that’s why it is forbidden.

However, the current Jew and Christian societies represent those – of whom Muslims were warned 1400 years ago:

"Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with thee unless thou follow their form of religion. Say: 'The Guidance of Allah,-that is the (only)Guidance.' Were thou to follow their desires after the knowledge which hath
reached thee, then wouldst thou find neither Protector nor helper against Allah.” – Holy Qur’an, 2:120

The proven corruption of the Old and New Testaments - that the Jews are the best people for all times and all places and the denial of Jesus (as) and the many other false teachings are evidence of the false teachings and practices of the christians and the Jews.

Therefore, there is no need for a muslim to put himself into the trouble of marrying from ‘the people of the book’ of today, because most of them are corrupted, and Allah orders us to not take them as friends or protectors. We
must know that according to Islam most of ‘the people of the book (Jews and Christians)’ are perverted transgressors, deceiving and in some cases are hypocrites.

salam

may i ask where you got this article from and who wrote it?

someone has already mentioned an ayah where allah permits marrying ppl of the bible.
i'm surprised it has been omitted in the above article.

this is picking and choosing what we like from islam.

but i have heard that some scholars have recommended not to marry non-muslims in the west.

however, what is better? fornication with a non-muslim girl or marriage and responsibility towards her thereafter?

[Le Croyant]

It mite be permissible but i wouldn't go for or recommend it for anyone. what kind of children would u have? Who will teach them abt Islam, how much time will u have to teach them?

If i had to choose between a jew or a christian, would prefer a jew as atleast many of them still follow thier religion and customs.

[Buadam]

It mite be permissible but i wouldn't go for or recommend it for anyone. what kind of children would u have? Who will teach them abt Islam, how much time will u have to teach them?

If i had to choose between a jew or a christian, would prefer a jew as atleast many of them still follow thier religion and customs.

what kind of children? depends on you! you make conditions at marriage that you are in charge of kids education.
and if a christian or jew was that fanatic about her way, she wouldn't marry a muslim in the 1st place - especially a jewess.

i know a catholic girl who says she wouldn't mind marrying a muslim because muslims are conservative and still believe in old-fashioned values, whereas very few catholics are still like this.

but you are right. it's not for everyone. and it is an ease for those who would otherwise engage in fornication.
wslm

[Saeedujana]

as salaamu alaikum,

regarding christians, we cannot marry those who believe in the trinity i.e. associating partners with allah aka shirk, and there are very little left who believe in 1 god i.e. monotheism.

ma'asalaama
saeed

[Buadam]

as salaamu alaikum,

regarding christians, we cannot marry those who believe in the trinity i.e. associating partners with allah aka shirk, and there are very little left who believe in 1 god i.e. monotheism.

ma'asalaama
saeed

salam
i have heard of this position. but the fact is christians were trinitarian at the time of quranic revelation, and allah said we can marry the chaste ones among them - nothing about non-trinitarians.
i think this is perhaps a strict hanafi position - other madhhabs might have other opinions. allahu a'lam

christianity is trinitarian - only a few sects were unitarian. today i don't know if any are.