What is the ruling on marrying women from the People of the Book?
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The questioner : Regarding the women from the People of the Book that you mentioned a moment ago: "It is not befitting for a Muslim to marry them." Of course, we understand that there is a difference between this and "it is not permissible," right?
The Shaykh : Of course, because if he marries her, his marriage is valid.
The questioner : Okay; sometimes a woman from the People of the Book comes from countries that have now become communist, like the Eastern countries, and generally she does not adhere to her religion or anything else. She might even have communist ideas if she is not organized within communism. So, does the prohibition apply in this case?
The Shaykh : Of course; meaning, if a man wants to marry a woman from the People of the Book—meaning one who is presumed to be from the People of the Book originally, but there are indications that she might be a communist—then he must investigate and search together... he must deduce from her whether she still believes in Christianity or has become an atheist. If it appears to him that she is still a Christian, even if it is only in thought and not in action, as is the case with many Muslims, then the ruling remains as it originally was. But if it appears to him that she has become an atheist, then it is not permissible for him to marry her.
The Shaykh : Of course, because if he marries her, his marriage is valid.
The questioner : Okay; sometimes a woman from the People of the Book comes from countries that have now become communist, like the Eastern countries, and generally she does not adhere to her religion or anything else. She might even have communist ideas if she is not organized within communism. So, does the prohibition apply in this case?
The Shaykh : Of course; meaning, if a man wants to marry a woman from the People of the Book—meaning one who is presumed to be from the People of the Book originally, but there are indications that she might be a communist—then he must investigate and search together... he must deduce from her whether she still believes in Christianity or has become an atheist. If it appears to him that she is still a Christian, even if it is only in thought and not in action, as is the case with many Muslims, then the ruling remains as it originally was. But if it appears to him that she has become an atheist, then it is not permissible for him to marry her.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.