Is it compulsory for a Christian girl to convert to Islam before entering into a Nikah relationship with a Muslim boy?
It is permissible for a Muslim male to marry a Muslim, or a Christian or a Jewish woman.[1] It is not a condition that the Christian or a Jewish woman to revert to Islam before marrying to a Muslim male. However, the Christian or Jewish woman should not only be a Christian or a Jew by name.
From your question it appears that you are a young boy who wants to get married. Marriage is a very big step and you should be very careful. Marriage is an indication that you are prepared to share the rest of your life with another person. Careful thoughts must be invested in choosing the right partner. This is a great responsibility, especially for the children that may be the result of this marriage.
Nowadays we are faced with a lot of challenges. Although it is permissible to marry Christian or Jewish women, Shariah only allows this where there is no likelihood that the husband or the children may be influenced into accepting the religion of the wife. This is likely to occur if the wife is more knowledgeable and strong in her faith and the Muslim man is ignorant and weak in his faith. Marrying such women is not free from the many consequential disorders in one’s personal life, his Deen and his children. For this reason many of the Sahabah Radiallahu Anhum were against marrying People of the Book. They consider these marriages as Makhruh (reprehensible).
Shaqiq ibn Salmah, al-Jassas reports in Ahkam al-Qur’an:
When Sayyidna Hudhayfah ibn Yaman الله عنه رضى came to Mada’in he married a Jewish woman. When Sayyidna Umar الله عنه رضى found out about it, he wrote a letter to him asking him to divorce the woman. When Sayyidna Hudhayfah ibn Yaman الله عنه رضى wrote back : Is she unlawful for me? Then, in a reply, Sayyidna Umar الله عنه رضى wrote: “I am not saying that she is unlawful, but women from these people do not have chastity, therefore I apprehend lest immodesty finds its way into your homes through this channel.
It is reported from Imam Muhammad ibn Hasan Radiallahu Anhu, in Kitab al-Athar reports from Imam Abu Hanifah that when Sayyidna Umar رضى الله عنه wrote another letter to Sayyidna Hudhayfah الله عنه رضى his words were:
“I hereby put you on oath that you would, before you put down this letter from your hands divorce and release her, because I fear other Musl;ims start following you and begin choosing women from among the People of the Book because of their beauty (bypassing Muslim women in the process). What greater trial could there be for Muslim women? – (Kitab al-Athar p156) (Maariful Quran Page 80-81)
Another challenge that we are faced with is in the upbringing and the education of the children. It is the responsibility of both the parents to properly educate the child. However, this role is generally more entrusted to the mother of the child. A non-Muslim mother who does not possess knowledge of Quran and Sunnah will be unable to Islamically educate the child. In fact the effect of the mother will rub onto the children. She may read the Bible or go to Church. The children will get a touch of Christianity if not influenced.
Having a Christian wife means having Christian in-laws. They will be the grandparents who will come into the children’s lives with their own influences.
Consider the points raised by us and think carefully before deciding.
It is also impermissible for you to have interaction with her before nikah has taken place. Free mixing of members of the opposite sex is prohibited in Islam except where it is absolutely necessary.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Saeed Ahmed Golaub
Westmoreland, Jamaica, West Indies
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
[1] {حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ وَلَا مُتَّخِذِي أَخْدَانٍ} [المائدة: 5]