Interfaith marriage in Islam

Interfaith marriages are recognized between Muslims and Non-Muslim "People of the Book" (usually enumerated as Jews, Christians, and Sabians).[2] According to the traditional interpretation of Islamic law (sharīʿa), a Muslim man is allowed to marry a Christian or Jewish woman but this ruling doesn't apply to women who belong to other Non-Muslim religious groups,[3] whereas a Muslim woman is not allowed to marry a Non-Muslim man of any Non-Muslim religious group.[3][4]

Interfaith marriage between Muslims and Christians is discussed in the Ashtiname of Muhammad, a treaty between Muslims and Christians that was recorded between Muhammad and Saint Catherine's Monastery, which is depicted in this icon.[1]

The traditional interpretation of Islamic law (sharīʿa) permits marriage between Muslim men and Non-Muslim women who are "People of the Book" (Jews and Christians);[5] in the case of a Muslim-Christian marriage, which is to be contracted only after permission from the Christian party, the Christian spouse is not to be prevented from attending church for prayer and worship, according to the Ashtiname of Muhammad, a treaty between Muslims and Christians recorded between Muhammad and Saint Catherine's Monastery.[1][6]

In some societies outside the traditional dar al-islam, interfaith marriages between Muslims and Non-Muslims are not uncommon, including marriages that contradict the historic Sunni understanding of ijmāʿ (the consensus of fuqāha) as to the bounds of legitimacy.[7] In the United States, for example, about one in ten Muslims are married to Non-Muslims, including about one in six Muslims under 40 and about 20% of Muslims who describe themselves as less devoutly religious.[8] The tradition of reformist and progressive Islam, however, permits marriage between Muslim women and Non-Muslim men;[5] Islamic scholars opining this view include Khaleel Mohammed, Hassan Al-Turabi, among others.[9]

More recently, studies have also been undertaken about attitudes towards interfaith marriages in Muslim-majority countries.[10]

Islamic texts
See also: Marital conversion § Islam

In general, the Qur'an tells Muslim men not to marry non-Muslim women,[3] and it tells Muslim women not marry non-Muslim men.[11] However, an allowance has been made for Muslim men to marry women of People of the Book (usually Christians and Jews).[3] No such allowances are made for women.[11] Although the Quran contains no explicit prohibition for Muslim women marrying non-Muslim men, scholars argue that the fact that Quran makes allowance for men, but not for women, means Muslim women are prohibited from interfaith marriages.[11] Khaled Abou El Fadl writes that he did not find a single scholar in classical jurisprudence who disagreed with the prohibition of marriage between Muslim women and non-Muslim men.[12]

Some Muslim scholars discourage all interfaith marriages, citing cultural differences between Muslims and non-Muslims.[13]

According to Qur'an (5:5),[14]

"This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers".

From this verse, it can be understood that Muslim men are allowed to marry women from the People of the Book (i.e. the Jews and Christians).

The Quran (2:221)[15] also states,

"And do not marry Polytheist women until they believe, And a believing slave woman is better than a Polytheist women, even though she might please you. And do not marry Polytheist men until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a Polytheist men, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses to the people that perhaps they may remember".

From this verse, it can be understood that Muslim man is not allowed to marry women who is polytheist unless she becomes Muslim.

Having all the above verses taken into account, it can be concluded that Muslim men can marry Non-Muslim women with following conditions:

  • Muslim men can marry the woman from the People of the Book (i.e. the Jews and Christians).
  • Muslim men cannot marry polytheistic women unless she converts.

Although historically Sunni Islam prohibited Muslim women to marry Non-Muslim men in interfaith marriages, in various parts of the world interfaith marriages between Muslim women and Non-Muslim men take place at substantial rates, contravening the traditional Sunni understanding of ijma.[5] For example, in the United States, about 10% of Muslim women are married to Non-Muslim men.[8] The tradition of reformist and progressive Islam does permit marriage between Muslim women and Non-Muslim men;[5] Islamic scholars opining this view include Khaleel Mohammed, Hassan Al-Turabi, among others.[9]

Conversion to Islam of one spouse in a non-Muslim marriage

Under Islamic law, if a Non-Muslim woman is married to a Non-Muslim man, and she converts to Islam, the marriage is suspended until her husband converts to Islam. She could, in theory, leave the Non-Muslim husband and marry a Muslim one. If the Non-Muslim husband does convert, a new marriage is not needed. In the Quran, it is said,

O ye who believe! When there come to you believing women refugees, examine (and test) them: God knows best as to their Faith: if ye ascertain that they are Believers, then send them not back to the Unbelievers. They are not lawful (wives) for the Unbelievers, nor are the (Unbelievers) lawful (husbands) for them. But pay the Unbelievers what they have spent (on their dower), and there will be no blame on you if ye marry them on payment of their dower to them. But hold not to the guardianship of unbelieving women: ask for what ye have spent on their dowers, and let the (Unbelievers) ask for what they have spent (on the dowers of women who come over to you). Such is the command of God. He judges (with justice) between you. And God is Full of Knowledge and Wisdom. {Surah 60:10}

Modern practice

In practice, many Arab countries allow interfaith marriages to Christian or Jewish women but not to Christian or Jewish men.[16] In Lebanon for example there is no civil personal status law and marriages are performed according to the religion of the spouses. In India, Muslim women can freely marry Non-muslim men. In order to promote trust among the religions, these marriages find larger acceptance in Indian society. Turkey allows marriages between Muslim women and Non-Muslim men through secular laws.[17] In Tunisia since 16 September 2017, Muslim women can lawfully marry any man of any faith, or of none. In Malaysia, a Non-Muslim must convert to Islam in order to marry a Muslim and the offspring of such unions are automatically Muslims.[18]

See also

References
  1. Ahmed, Akbar S. (11 January 2013). Postmodernism and Islam: Predicament and Promise. Routledge. p. 62. ISBN 978-1-134-92417-2. The Quran speaks favourably of the people of the Book. For example, Surah 3, verse 199, carries a universal message of goodwill and hope to all those who believe, the people of the Book irrespective of their religious label--Christian, Jew or Muslim. Muslims can marry with the people of the Book,
  2. John L. Esposito, ed. (2014). "Ahl al-Kitab". The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195125580.001.0001. ISBN 9780195125580.
  3. Leeman 2009, p. 755.
  4. Elmali-Karakaya, Ayse (2020). "Being Married to a Non-Muslim Husband: Religious Identity in Muslim Women's Interfaith Marriages". In Hood, Ralph W.; Cheruvallil-Contractor, Sariya (eds.). Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion: A Diversity of Paradigms. Vol. 31. Leiden and Boston: Brill Publishers. pp. 388–410. doi:10.1163/9789004443969_020. ISBN 978-90-04-44348-8. ISSN 1046-8064.
  5. Leeman 2009.
  6. Timani, Hussam S.; Ashton, Loye Sekihata (29 November 2019). Post-Christian Interreligious Liberation Theology. Springer Nature. p. 196. ISBN 978-3-030-27308-8.
  7. Ghouse, Mike (8 February 2017). "Can A Muslim Woman Marry A Non-Muslim Man?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  8. "Roughly one-in-ten married Muslims have a non-Muslim spouse". The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. Washington, D.C.: Pew Research Center. 25 July 2017. Archived from the original on 16 October 2018. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  9. Jahangir, Junaid (21 March 2017). "Muslim Women Can Marry Outside The Faith". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 25 March 2017. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  10. Jana Van Niekerk & Maykel Verkuyten (2018) Interfaith marriage attitudes in Muslim majority countries: A multilevel approach, The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 28:4, 257-270. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10508619.2018.1517015
  11. (Leeman 2009, p. 757):These passages are traditionally interpreted as a general prohibition on marriage outside Islam for Muslim women.116 Similar passages117 forbid Muslim men from marrying non-Muslim women. However, another verse specifically authorizes Muslim men to marry women from the People of the Book.118 The Qur’an offers no such express allowance (or prohibition) for Muslim women.119 Although the Qur’an contains no clear prohibition against marrying People of the Book, traditional scholars have reasoned: “If men needed to be given express permission to marry a [non-Muslim], women needed to be given express permission as well, but since they were not given any such permission then they must be barred from marrying a [non-Muslim].”
  12. Leeman 2009, p. 758.
  13. Leeman 2009, p. 756.
  14. "The Noble Qur'an". quran.com. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  15. "The Noble Qur'an". quran.com. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  16. The Need to Unify Personal Status Laws in Arab Countries Archived April 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  17. TWENTY-FIRST-CENTURY LOVING: NATIONALITY, GENDER, AND RELIGION IN THE MUSLIM WORLD Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine
  18. Marriage Procedures Between Muslim and Non-Muslim Archived August 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine

Bibliography
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