To marry a person of a different religion

Q. Can a Muslim man or woman marry a person of a different religion?

A. Marriage between a Muslim man and a non-Muslim woman is not valid. In other words, mixed marriage has no place in Islam. However, according to the law established by the Qur'an, it is permissible for a Muslim man to marry a Christian or Jewish woman. This concession, made exclusively for men, was later abolished by Hadhrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu anhu) because, in his view, such unions would cause great fitnah (discord). He even commanded men married to non-Muslim women to dissolve their marriages by divorcing their wives.

It would be incorrect to interpret this action taken by Hadhrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu anhu) as a violation of Qur'anic law. If the action of a doctor who forbids a patient from consuming certain halaal foods, which could harm the physical health of the patient, is seen as commendable, then it is unclear why the action of Hadhrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu anhu) would be considered otherwise. He did nothing more than prevent an evil that he believed could harm the spiritual health of the Ummah. No doubt Hadhrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu anhu), who spent 12 years studying Surah Al-Baqarah, understood the spirit of Qur'anic law better than we do.

The cause of Hadhrat 'Umar (Radiyallahu anhu)'s action was spiritual deterioration. If it was necessary during the era of Khairul-Qurun (the best of times) to prohibit inter-religious marriage, how much more necessary is it today, when many Muslims are more familiar with the ways and lifestyle of non-Muslims—such as Mother's Day, Christmas, New Year's Eve, wedding dresses, and many others—than they are with their own Deen?

Given the precarious spiritual state of the Ummah today, it would be very difficult for a Muslim married to a Christian or Jewish woman to preserve his faith and religious convictions. If this is the case for the husband, what will become of the children born from such a marriage?

In short, marriage with a Christian or Jewish woman, in the current context, is extremely risky because it poses many dangers to the Deen of the father and the children. In fact, such a marriage is Makruh Tahrimi (highly disliked). However, it is important to clarify that the Nikah with a Christian or Jewish woman is valid. Their relationship is not considered adulterous, and their children are considered legitimate.

It is also necessary to clarify that what has been stated so far concerns the marriage of a Muslim to an Ahl-e-Kitaab woman—i.e., a woman who is a Christian or Jewish by religious conviction, not by name only. She will not be considered Ahl-e-Kitaab if she does not believe in a Supreme Being, or in Hadhrat Musa (Alaihis Salaam) and Hadhrat 'Isa (Alaihis Salaam), or in their respective books. Such a woman is considered an atheist, and a Nikah with an atheist is not valid.

[English version of "‎Épouser une personne de religion différente" – Al Haadi – Vol. 1 No. 9]