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Marrying
non-Muslim Women
Question:
What is your advice concerning some Muslim minorities marrying
disbelieving women who do not believe in the existence of
a Creator and what is the effect of that upon the children?
Response:
My advice to all Muslims is that they should not marry anyone
who is not a Muslim. A Muslim man should do his utmost to
marry a Muslim woman because that will be good for him, both
in the life of this world and in the Hereafter and good for
his children as well. With regards to marrying kuffaar,
if they are not from the People
of the Book, the Jews and Christians, then, according
to clear text and consensus of the scholars, it is forbidden.
According to a consensus of the scholars, it is not permitted
for a Muslim to marry Buddhists, communists, atheists and
so forth. Allaah (Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala) says: {And do not marry idolatresses until
they believe.} [Soorah
al-Baqarah, Aayah
221]
Concerning
the Settlement of Hudaybiyah, Allaah (Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala) ordered that the believing women, who came
seeking emigration to the Prophet (sal-Allaahu
`alayhe wa sallam) should not be returned to their disbelieving
husbands. He (Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala) says: {They are not lawful (wives) for the
disbelievers nor are the disbelievers lawful (husbands) for
them.} [Soorah
al-Mumtahinah, Aayah
10]
It
is, therefore, not permitted for a Muslim to ever marry a
kaafir
woman unless she is from the People
of the Book and they are the Jews and Christians only.
They are considered the People of the Book if they have remained
upon the teachings of their Book. However, if they have become
communists or deny the existence of a Creator, they are no
longer People
of the Book, but rather they have become atheists. If,
however, they are from the People
of the Book, adhere to the teachings of Christianity or
Judaism and believe in Allaah and the Resurrection, then they
can be married. This is provided that they are known to be
chaste and it is known that they do not commit adultery or
fornication. Allaah has made lawful for us chaste women from
the People
of the Book. He (Subhaanahu
wa Ta'aala) says: {All good things are made lawful for
you this day. The food of the People
of the Book is lawful to you and your food is lawful to
them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the
believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture
(Jews and Christians) before you, provided that you give them
their dowries and live in honour with them, neither committing
fornication nor taking them as mistresses... } [Soorah
al-Maa'idah, Aayah
5]
Allaah
has made lawful for Muslims chaste and virtuous women who
are free and not slaves. There is no harm, therefore, in marrying
women from the People
of the Book, if the need arises. However, to refrain from
doing so and to marry Muslim women is preferable and advisable,
especially nowadays.
The
risk involved in marrying them these days is greater because
they have control and power over husbands and might, therefore,
lead their husbands or their children to kufr
in Allaah. My advice to all my brothers everywhere is, that
they should not marry non-Muslim women and that they should
be aware of the risks and end result of doing so. Rather,
they should do their utmost to marry Muslim women and to educate
and guide them to what is good. This is safer, especially
at this time when evil and wickedness has increased. The kuffaar
have today gained the upper hand over the Muslims, and women
in the countries of the kuffaar
have power and authority and dominate their Muslim husbands
and try to attract them and their children to their false
religion.
And
there is no power, no strength except with Allaah!
Shaykh
Ibn Baaz
al-Aqalliyaat al-Muslimah - Page 29, Fatwa No.5
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