The Ruling on Marrying a Jewish Woman, a Christian Woman, or a Woman Who Associates Partners with Allah
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Question:
Must a wife follow her husband's religion in Islam?
Answer:
This requires a detailed explanation: If the husband is a Muslim and she is a chaste woman from the People of the Book (Jewish or Christian), there is no harm in the difference in religion; it is not harmful for a Muslim man to marry a chaste woman from among the Jews and Christians; because Allah has permitted this, as He said, (Exalted and Majestic is He): [al-Ma'idah: 5].
So, if a Muslim proposes to a chaste woman from the People of the Book (meaning one known for her chastity), who is not a fornicator, not a prostitute, and is known to guard her chastity and is not among the prostitutes who are fornicators, then if he proposes to her and marries her, and she is a chaste Jewish or Christian woman from the People of the Book, there is no harm in that.
As for her being a disbeliever other than from the Jews or Christians, that is not allowed. Allah the Exalted has only permitted a chaste woman from the People of the Book for a Muslim man. He the Exalted and Majestic said in the other verse: [Surat al-Baqarah: 221], and He said: [Al-Baqarah 2:221] This is in Surat al-Baqarah. And He said in Surat al-Mumtahanah: [Surat al-Mumtahanah: 10].
The basic principle is that it is not permissible for a Muslim to marry a disbelieving woman, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to marry a disbelieving man. This is the basic principle: he does not marry this one, nor does he marry that one. Rather, they must agree in religion: a Muslim with a Muslim woman, or a disbeliever with a disbelieving woman. However, there is one case where a difference in religion is an exception: when the man is a Muslim (the husband is a Muslim) and the woman is only from the People of the Book, and the woman from the People of the Book (Jewish or Christian) is chaste. The condition of chastity (that she is sound and modest) must be met. Then there is no harm in a Muslim marrying her specifically, as Allah legislated that in Surat al-Ma'idah. As for anyone other than a woman from the People of the Book, a Muslim is not permitted to marry her (whether she is Buddhist, pagan, communist, or otherwise).
A Muslim woman is never permitted to marry a disbeliever; a Muslim woman is never permitted to marry a disbeliever. The exception is only for the woman with the Muslim; it is the Muslim who is granted the exception to marry a Jewish or Christian woman, meaning a specific woman from the People of the Book, and not the rest of the disbelievers. As for the female, she is never permitted to marry a disbeliever; if she is a Muslim, she is not permitted to marry except a Muslim; due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Mumtahanah 60:10] and due to his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) : [Al-Baqarah 2:221] meaning do not marry them until they believe.
Must a wife follow her husband's religion in Islam?
Answer:
This requires a detailed explanation: If the husband is a Muslim and she is a chaste woman from the People of the Book (Jewish or Christian), there is no harm in the difference in religion; it is not harmful for a Muslim man to marry a chaste woman from among the Jews and Christians; because Allah has permitted this, as He said, (Exalted and Majestic is He):
This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers
الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ وَلَا مُتَّخِذِي أَخْدَانٍSo, if a Muslim proposes to a chaste woman from the People of the Book (meaning one known for her chastity), who is not a fornicator, not a prostitute, and is known to guard her chastity and is not among the prostitutes who are fornicators, then if he proposes to her and marries her, and she is a chaste Jewish or Christian woman from the People of the Book, there is no harm in that.
As for her being a disbeliever other than from the Jews or Christians, that is not allowed. Allah the Exalted has only permitted a chaste woman from the People of the Book for a Muslim man. He the Exalted and Majestic said in the other verse:
And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe
وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّAnd do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe
وَلَا تُنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنُواthey are not lawful [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them
لَا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّThe basic principle is that it is not permissible for a Muslim to marry a disbelieving woman, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to marry a disbelieving man. This is the basic principle: he does not marry this one, nor does he marry that one. Rather, they must agree in religion: a Muslim with a Muslim woman, or a disbeliever with a disbelieving woman. However, there is one case where a difference in religion is an exception: when the man is a Muslim (the husband is a Muslim) and the woman is only from the People of the Book, and the woman from the People of the Book (Jewish or Christian) is chaste. The condition of chastity (that she is sound and modest) must be met. Then there is no harm in a Muslim marrying her specifically, as Allah legislated that in Surat al-Ma'idah. As for anyone other than a woman from the People of the Book, a Muslim is not permitted to marry her (whether she is Buddhist, pagan, communist, or otherwise).
A Muslim woman is never permitted to marry a disbeliever; a Muslim woman is never permitted to marry a disbeliever. The exception is only for the woman with the Muslim; it is the Muslim who is granted the exception to marry a Jewish or Christian woman, meaning a specific woman from the People of the Book, and not the rest of the disbelievers. As for the female, she is never permitted to marry a disbeliever; if she is a Muslim, she is not permitted to marry except a Muslim; due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
they are not lawful [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them
لَا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّAnd do not marry polytheistic men
وَلَا تُنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.