I am a woman from an orthodox jewish(very observant) background.I have a christian father and Jewish mother.I was not agreeing with the christian view celebrating Jesus as a son of God instead of as a Prophet so I decided to learn about my mothers faith.
I moved to a very orthodox jewish area in Ny and seen how some are very good but some change theri interpretation of Torah according to their own wants.About 5 years now I have been continuing on my search for truth.I have written numerous Islamic websites and have gotten NO RESPONSE.Seems no one takes me seriously..My belief even as a jew is there is ONE GOD and Mohammad is his last Prophet.
I fast,pray and keep shabbat as a jew. and follow holidays .I met 2 years ago an amazing person who has become my best friend and we have decided to Marry.He is Muslim and I have not converted.We had an issue with his family not approving but my family is extremely supportive .His family would have rather martried him off to an arranged mairraige with an INdian Muslim girl.We still want to marry.
We decided to go to Jamaica to marry because he is an Indian citizen and Im a US citizen.While we apply for a visa its much easier to visit Jamaica than India for me.We plan to see eachother once a month for 4-5 days at a time.One issue Im coming across when we contacted the central Masjid in Jamaica is they want a letter from my Imam.I had explained my beliefs and our wishes.
I am so afraid of rejection and them denying us and not helping us with nikah.I know Muslim men may marry people of the book but I am clearly not an idol worshiper.I even cover my hair and dress modestly,keep halal/kosher for many years now. Why do so many places reject such a union?
I would love to learnmore about Islam but my area where I live is VERY Jewish and I dont even know where to start.So I guess I have 2 questions.
How can I learn more ..and How can I have Nikah with my fiance?
Thank you so much for your time.God bless you for your efforts.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh.
You have mentioned two issues in your query, one relating to your religious and spiritual journey, and the other to obstacles you are facing in marriage.
In regards to the first matter, your religious convictions are unclear. If you believe in Allāh as the only deity and Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as His messenger, this entails you have accepted Islām as the last and final religion. The Sharī‘ah (laws) of Islām has abrogated the laws of all previous prophets.
Muhammad, the Messenger of Allāh, came with the last religious dispensation.
The Qur’ān says:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا
“Today I have accomplished for you [the laws of] your religion, and I have completed upon you My favour and I am satisfied with Islām as your religion.” (5:3)
And:
ثمَّ جَعَلْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرِيعَةٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْرِ فَاتَّبِعْهَا وَلَا تَتَّبِعْ أَهْوَاء الَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“Then We have set you on a path from the affair [of religion], so follow it, and do not follow the passions of those who do not know.” (45:18)
And:
ما كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ أَبَا أَحَدٍ مِّن رِّجَالِكُمْ وَلَكِن رَّسُولَ اللَّهِ وَخَاتَمَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمًا
“Muhammad is not a father of any of your men, but he is a messenger of Allāh and the last of the prophets”
Hence, the laws of the previous prophets, including Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them), have been abrogated with the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him).[1]
If you truly believe in the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as Allāh’s Messenger, it follows that you accept the beliefs he taught and the code of conduct he preached. If you have accepted this, all that is left for you to become Muslim is to pronounce the Shahādah, the declaration of belief:
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله
Ash-hadu allaa ilaaha illallaah wahdahoo laa shareeka lah. Wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhoo wa Rasooluh
“I bear testimony that there is no deity but Allāh, alone, with no partner. And I bear testimony that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.”
We advise you to contact Aalimah Humera Ahmad who is based in New York. She can be contacted on the following website:
She can assist you with questions you have about Islām.
With regards to the question of marriage, in principle it is permissible for Muslim men to marry women from the People of the Book, that is Jews and Christians. The Qur’ān states:
الْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ
“And chaste women from among believers, and chaste women from among those who were given the Book before you [are lawful for you in marriage].” (5:3)
However, Muslim men living in non-Muslim countries are strongly advised against marrying non-Muslim women.[2] The primary reason for this is the instability this will create in the family. The mother is normally responsible for bringing up the children, and particularly in a context where a child is exposed to a range of views and practices, it will be difficult for the father to exert his influence over the children and keep them on sound Islāmic faith and practice. It is imperative for a Muslim father to keep his children on the right path and to develop the consciousness of Allāh in them. The Qur’ān states:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قُوا أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَهْلِيكُمْ نَارًا
“O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from the Hellfire.” (Qur’ān, 66:6)
This is probably one of the reasons why your fiance’s family are reluctant for him to marry you. As you already believe in Islām, it will be easier for you to proclaim the Shahādah and thereafter marry. Marriage, for which you are considering travelling to Jamaica etc., is not a complex issue in Islām. We recommend that you take advice from local Muslim scholars of New York, like the one we referred to above. If you require any further assistance, do not hesitate to contact us. You may also refer to the idealwoman website dedicated to woman-related issues in Islām:
And Allah Ta‘ālā Knows Best
Zameelur Rahman
Student Darul Iftaa
UK
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
[1] قال الآمدي: إجماع المسلمين على أن شريعة النبي عليه السلام ناسخة لشريعة من تقدم، قال ابن حاجب: الإجماع على أن شريعته صلى الله عليه وسلم ناسخة لجميع الشرائع، قال التاج السبكي: الإجماع على أن شريعته صلى الله عليه وسلم ناسخة لجميع الشرائع (هدم أصول أهل البدع، الدار النورانية للتراث، ص٥٧١)
[2] قلت: أرأيت الرجل المسلم يدخل أرض الحرب بأمان أيتزوج امرأة من أهل الحرب وهم أهل الكتاب؟ قال: أكره له ذلك. قلت: فإن تزوج هل يكون ذلك جائزا؟ قال: نعم. قلت: فلم كرهته؟ قال: لأني أكره أن يكون ولده بأرض الحرب وأكره الإقامة بها (الأصل للإمام محمد، دار ابن حزم، ج٧ ص٤٨٧-٨)