Home » Hanafi Fiqh » Askimam.org » Can a Muslim marry a Christian?

Can a Muslim marry a Christian?

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by Askimam.org

One of my friend asked me this question. Can a Muslim boy marry a Christian Girl? . Actually He has a girlfriend with whom He has been in relation (doing “Zina”) for quiet a long time. Now He want to Make “Nikaah” with her. So is this permissible for him to do Nikaah with that christian girl. That Girl doesn’t want to become muslim. The girl made some research about this and says that your religion(Islam) allows to marry with “Ahle-Kitaab”. Now what is Islamic Guiadance ? Please guide us properly and in detail soon.

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

The purpose of Nikah is to safeguard one’s chastity and attain peace and comfort through it. While performing the Nikah is a noble act, one has to be conscious of many issues related to it.

The parameters of Shari’āh are quite different to those of other religions. Islām strives to maintain and promote a high level of compliancy to its regulations, hence, blocking out any such avenues that may lead to harming ones Īmān (faith) or even causing it to wane. As such, Islām advocates that one socialises and interacts with those who are Muslims themselves.

One’s family and friends tend to greatly influence his/her habits, thinking, traits and actions. Therefore, Islām advocates that the institution of marriage be conducted with such a spouse who is chaste and noble, so that he/she may compliment the other in his/her religious activities.

Hence, Shari’ah allows marriage to a Muslim spouse. If need be, one is also allowed to marry a woman who has faith in any of the divine religions such as Christianity and Judaism,[1] although this is not recommended as it may lead to the weakening of one’s faith and affording one’s children an un-Islāmic upbringing.[2]

That is why Hadhrat ‘Umar Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu discouraged the Muslims from marrying the Ahl-e-Kitaab (people of the book) despite his era being one regarding Rasulullah Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam had prophesized goodness. The evil in our times is evident and it is clear how much harm can be caused to one’s Īmān and one’s children by him marrying a woman who is not a Muslim.

In principle, it is permissible for him to marry the woman. However, he should make every possible attempt to invite her towards Islam both verbally and by conducting himself in the best of character according to the teachings of Islam.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Nabeel Valli

Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

www.daruliftaa.net


[1]    تبيين الحقائق شرح كنز الدقائق وحاشية الشلبي (2/ 109) [مكتبة إمدادية]

قَالَ -رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ -(وَحَلَّ تَزَوُّجُ الْكِتَابِيَّةِ) لِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حلّ لكم} [المائدة: 5]

[2]    حاشية الشلبي على تبيين الحقائق شرح كنز الدقائق وحاشية الشلبي (2/ 109) [مكتبة إمدادية]

وَالْأَوْلَى أَنْ لَا يُفْعَلَ أَيْ التَّزْوِيجُ بِالْكِتَابِيَّةِ وَلَا تُؤْكَلَ ذَبِيحَتُهُمْ إلَّا لِلضَّرُورَةِ، وَتُكْرَهُ الْكِتَابِيَّةُ الْحَرْبِيَّةُ إجْمَاعًا لِافْتِتَاحِ بَابِ الْفِتْنَةِ مِنْ إمْكَانِ التَّعَلُّقِ الْمُسْتَدْعِي لِلْمُقَامِ مَعَهَا فِي دَارِ الْحَرْبِ، أَوْ تَعْرِيضِ الْوَلَدِ عَلَى التَّخَلُّقِ بِأَخْلَاقِ أَهْلِ الْكُفْرِ وَعَلَى الرِّقِّ بِأَنْ تُسْبَى

This answer was collected from Askimam.org, which is operated under the supervision of Mufti Ebrahim Desai from South Africa.

Read answers with similar topics: