Interfaith Marriage in Islam (Step By Step Guide)

Interfaith marriage in Islam

Interfaith marriages are recognized between Muslims and Non-Muslim “People of the Book” (usually enumerated as Jews, Christians, and Sabians). 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, whereas a Muslim woman is not allowed to marry a Non-Muslim man of any Non-Muslim religious group.

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); 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.

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. 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. The tradition of reformist and progressive Islam, however, permits marriage between Muslim women and Non-Muslim men.

In general, the Qur’an tells Muslim men not to marry non-Muslim women, and it tells Muslim women not marry non-Muslim men. However, an allowance has been made for Muslim men to marry women of People of the Book (usually Christians and Jews). No such allowances are made for women. 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. 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.

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

According to Qur’an (5:5)

“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) 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. For example, in the United States, about 10% of Muslim women are married to Non-Muslim men. The tradition of reformist and progressive Islam does permit marriage between Muslim women and Non-Muslim men; Islamic scholars opining this view include Khaleel Mohammed, Hassan Al-Turabi, among others.