Assalamou alikom my name is Mohamed, I am Sunni muslim, Tunisian, I met a woman in facebook, Trinidad, it is Hindi, I liked well and I want to marry her, halal Islamic marrige following standards Islamic sunnat Allah wa rasoulohou, she is ready to agree and be muslim, please mufti sir, I need your help and I hope you answer me, Jazak Allah kol khir
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Marriage is indeed a big step in one’s life and while being a noble act, all concerning issues must be contemplated carefully. Amongst the fundamental purposes of marriage is to attain peace and comfort, consequently one should choose a suitable spouse.
As a Muslim, the purpose of getting married should be to safeguard one’s Imaan, chastity and attain peace and comfort through it. Therefore, the most important quality one should seek in a spouse is Imaan and consciousness of Deen and Allah Ta’ala, so that he/she may compliment the other in his/her religious activities.
We would also like to point out that there may be further legal complications and difficulties. Furthermore, one should ensure that the intention of marriage must not be to receive benefits/citizenship of a country. Islam does not advocate such marriages, as they are generally temporary and provisional. These marriages are engineered to advance other agendas and are not performed with the intent to be permanent. This against the true spirit of marriage in Islam.
However, as per your query, if the woman accepts Islam sincerely, and is ready to establish her Deen, and the marriage fulfills all the necessary conditions of Shari’ah, then the marriage will be valid.
Our advice is do not rush into marriage. Take your time and consult appropriate people. Most important, make Istikhara and seek the guidance of Allah Ta’ala.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Arshad Ali
Darul Iftaa, Jaamia Madinatul Uloom (Trinidad)