Fatwa #21727 August 2000Pakistan
Does 'marrying women of the book' refer to the true Christian and Jews and not to those who believe Isa to be the Son of God, correct?
Question
I ask this because there are Muslim men who marry staunch Christians and Jews on this pretext (usually for obtaining passports).
Answer
'And We have made permissible the pure women from the believers and the pure%0D%0Awomen from the people of the Book.' (Maaidah)%0D%0A%0D%0AThe above verse is clear that it is permissible for a Muslim male to marry a%0D%0Afemale from the Ahl-ul-Kitaab (Jews%2FChristians).%0D%0A%0D%0AThe Christians during the time of the revelation had the distorted beliefs%0D%0Aof trinity, crucifixion, etc. Despite that, Allah Ta'ala permits marrying a%0D%0AChristian or Jewish female. However, the purpose of marrying such females is%0D%0Atheir apparent adherence to a heavenly revealed book which could be a%0D%0Astepping stone into understanding the true religion (Islam). Understandably%0D%0Aa marriage has influence on a person's thinking and ideology. Since the male%0D%0Ais stronger generally, he would be able to influence his wife into Islam.%0D%0ATherefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim female to marry a Christian or%0D%0AJewish male purchance she will be influenced to leave Islam.%0D%0A%0D%0AIt must be noted that if the Muslim male is weak in his Islam, and there is%0D%0Afear of him being influenced by the Christian%2FJewish wife, it is not%0D%0Apermissible for him to marry her. A Christian%2FJewish woman should not be%0D%0Ajust by registration while not really being a Christian%2FJew.%0D%0A%0D%0AKindly forward to us with your postal address for literature on mutual%0D%0Arights between husband and wife. MARRIAGE TO NON-MUSLIMS:%0D%0Awww.jamiat.org.za%2Fm_non-muslim.html%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0Aand Allah Ta'ala Knows Best%0D%0A%0D%0AMufti Ebrahim Desai%0D%0A%0D%0A