The ruling on marrying a woman from the People of the Book before her conversion to Islam and the method of her entering Islam

The questioner:
The question says: A man, an Indonesian Muslim whose Islam is good, wants to marry a Muslim woman who has a strong interest in Islamic affairs. Is it permissible for him to marry her, or should he wait until she completes her entry into Islam through the procedures carried out in the court?

The Shaykh:
Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has permitted the Muslim to marry a woman from the People of the Book. He said: It is permissible for the Muslim to marry a woman from the People of the Book, whether she is Jewish or Christian; this is permissible. However, what we advise this brother to do is that, first, if he wants to marry, he should marry a Muslim woman. He should marry a Muslim woman, and Muslim women, praise be to Allah, are numerous, including American women and others. So he should look for a Muslim wife. If his desire is attached to this woman about whom he asked, the best thing is to wait until she becomes Muslim and then marry her; this is the best. If he marries her now while she is on her religion, this is permissible if its conditions are met and its Sharia requirements are fulfilled. This is permissible, but first, we advise him to marry a Muslim woman, and second, if he is determined to marry this woman, the best thing is to wait until she becomes Muslim. Perhaps this will be an incentive for her to embrace Islam. As for if he insists and wants to marry her while she is on her religion, this is a matter of strictness if its Sharia conditions are met.

The questioner:
If it is necessary to enter Islam, do we take her out by testimony, or are the procedures carried out in the court necessary?

The Shaykh:
Her utterance of the testimony is sufficient for her entry into Islam if she utters the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. From the Sharia perspective, this is sufficient for her entry into Islam. However, the administrative procedures are also necessary. The administrative procedures are necessary so that... they say the path of Allah.