Muslim men can marry only Muslim, Christian, or Jewish chaste
women, while Muslim women can marry only Muslim men.
This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them. (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book, revealed before your time,- when ye give them their due dowers, and desire chastity, not lewdness, nor secret intrigues if any one rejects faith, fruitless is his work, and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).
If a muslim converts to another religion, i believe the marriage is nullified because the person has become an apostate even if it is a woman who converts to Christianity or Judiasm. On the other hand, if a muslim man marries a Christian or Jewish woman, what happens depends on the couple. Some marriages are successful despite the fact that the man is a muslim and the woman isn't. In other marriages, the woman may either not accept Islamic rules such as not mixing with men, not wearing islamic dress, etc or she may try to raise the children as non-muslim. What happens in these marriages depends on how good a muslim the man is. If the man is not a practicing muslim, he may not care but if the man is a conservative muslim he may try to force the woman to change her ways. In that case, either the woman will change or she may be stubborn which will end up in divorce. If the couple have children and the man is lucky, he will win custudy of the children. If not, he may lose the custody, especially if they are living in a non-muslim country. In that case, the woman may succeed in raising the children as non-muslims, a great loss for the muslim man. Therefore, before marrying a non-muslim woman, men should take the above into consideration and in the prenuptial contract write (amongst other things) that the custody of children will go to the man in case of divorce.
So what happens if a Muslim marry's someone who isn't Muslim, Christian or Jewish? Or what if the person he/she gets married to changes religion?
As Surah 5:5 tell us a Muslim man cannot marry a woman who isnt from the people of the book i.e a christian and jew. Therefore a muslim should observe this rule and shouldnt act upon his desires. However, if a muslim choose to marry someone outside the Abrahamic faiths than i believe their marriage is not consider valid and they live in a form of zina.
The evidence for that is the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And do not marry Al-Mushrikaat (idolatresses) till they believe (worship Allaah Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress), even though she pleases you” [al-Baqarah 2:221]
Its impermisible for a muslim female to marry a non-muslim even if he is from the people of the Book:
“And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al‑Mushrikoon till they believe (in Allaah Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikoon) invite you to the Fire, but Allaah invites (you) to Paradise and forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember” [al-Baqarah 2:221]
As sister Muhaba pointed out, a man can marry a non-muslim as long as she is from the People of the Book. However a woman can not marry a man who is a non Muslim http://islamqa.com/en/ref/95572
format_quote Originally Posted by mystical_moon
Or what if the person he/she gets married to changes religion?
Does a woman have to leave her kaafir husband if she becomes Muslim? What is the ruling if she refuses to leave him?.
Praise be to Allaah.
If a woman becomes Muslim and her husband is a kaafir, then the marriage is annulled, but she may wait until the ‘iddah ends, then if the husband becomes Muslim during that time, then she is still his wife, but if he does not become Muslim before the ‘iddah ends, then the annulment of the marriage becomes clear, starting from the time she became Muslim.
Can he go back to her if he becomes Muslim after the ‘iddah ends?
There are two scholarly opinions concerning that. The more correct view is that he may go back to her if she agrees, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent his daughter back to Abu’l-‘Aas ibn al-Rabee’ several years after she became Muslim, when he also became Muslim.
But if she refuses then they must be separated by force by the judge.
''Let the days do as they please,
And be optimistic when destiny decrees,
Do not despair due to the events of nights past
For the events of this world were not meant to last.”
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger. Dear questioner, thank you very much for having confidence in us, and we hope our efforts, which are purely for Allah's Sake, meet your expectations. First, Islam calls upon all people to join hands and to co-operate with each other regardless of their creedal affiliations as long as all work for the betterment of humanity and there is no harm inflicted as a result of such co-operation. Of all the existing religions, Jews and Christians possess a very special status in Islam. Islam allowed the Muslim to marry a woman from among the People of the Book, but a Muslim woman, on the other hand, is NOT permitted to have a non-Muslim man as her husband. The reason is that usually the sons and daughters are ascribed to the father, and Islam’s ruling is that the son or the daughter should follow the true religion; namely Islam. The previous ruling is so inclusive in Islam. Responding to the question, Sheikh Zoubir Bouchikhi, Imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston’s Southeast Mosque, states the following: “First of all, I would like to stress that Islam is the true religion of Allah (god). Muslims, are enjoined by the teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, to believe in Jesus and Moses as Messengers of Allah, while the Jews and the Christians do not actually believe in Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as the last and the seal of all Prophets and Messengers of Allah. This may indicate that their beliefs are not complete, and from here came the command of Allah for NOT allowing a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man as man is responsible for his wife and children, and responsibility cannot be given to someone who incomplete in his belief. I know that this is a little bit hard, but remember that the truth is always bitter for those who are not ready to accept it. Having said this, I should add here that we are not separated as Muslims, Jews, and Christians by the Books of the same Creator but by the changes that some of the Rabbis and the Priests have made to the true teachings of Moses and Jesus (peace and blessings be upon them all) them). Finally, I hope that you study Islam from its main source; the Qur'an and the Sunnah, and not by looking at the behavior of some Muslims. I wish you all the best.” Moreover, the prominent Saudi scholar Sheikh `Abdul-Rahman Al-Barrak, adds: “It is not permissible for a Muslim woman to marry a kafir (non-Muslim), whether he is Jewish, Christian or an atheist because the man has authority over his wife, and it is not permissible for a kafir to have authority over a Muslim woman. There are decisive texts from the Qur’an which refer to the prohibition of such marriage. For example, Allah Almighty says, “And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al Mushrikun (atheists) till they believe (in Allah Alone)” (Al-Baqarah: 221) And “And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers” (An-Nisaa’: 141) Source: www.islam-qa.com Finally, we recommend you to read: Marrying a Non-Muslim Male Does the Term “Ahlul-Kitab” Still Apply Today? Muhammad
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