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 whom you mentioned a moment ago that a Muslim should not marry, of course, we understood that there is a difference between this and it being not permissible?
The Shaykh : Of course, because if he marries her, his marriage to her is valid.
The questioner : Now, sometimes a woman from the People of the Book comes along... and now she has become a communist... in these Eastern countries, and generally she does not adhere to her religion or to anything. She might also have communist ideas if she is... a communist. So does the prohibition apply here?
The Shaykh : Of course, meaning if a man wants to marry a woman from the People of the Book, one who is presumed to be from the People of the Book originally, but there is a feeling that she might be a communist, then he must investigate and search with... to 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 only in thought and not in action... then the ruling remains as it was originally. 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 to her is valid.
The questioner : Now, sometimes a woman from the People of the Book comes along... and now she has become a communist... in these Eastern countries, and generally she does not adhere to her religion or to anything. She might also have communist ideas if she is... a communist. So does the prohibition apply here?
The Shaykh : Of course, meaning if a man wants to marry a woman from the People of the Book, one who is presumed to be from the People of the Book originally, but there is a feeling that she might be a communist, then he must investigate and search with... to 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 only in thought and not in action... then the ruling remains as it was originally. But if it appears to him that she has become an atheist, then it is not permissible for him to marry her.