Can a Muslim man marry ANY ahle-kitab (People of the book) woman?
By: Khurshid Imam
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A. Introduction
It is widely believed by most of Muslims that a Muslim man can marry any woman from ahle-kitab. Ahle-kitab is Arabic word which refers to people of the book or people who were given previous scriptures by Almighty God. The general understanding about ahle-kitab is that it refers to Jews and Christians.
So Muslims believe that a Muslim man can marry ANY jew or Christian lady. However this is an incorrect and incomplete belief.
Wait….. Don’t open your fatwa bank. Just read the complete article.
B. Reason of the misconception
As usual; this misunderstanding is also because of not believing and pondering over the Quran. Quran is the non-corrupted and final message of Almighty God for the mankind. Though God has time and again commanded in the Quran to strongly hold it and take decisions as per the guidance of Quran but Muslims – as a whole - have failed to do so. Practically majority of Muslims prefer their set of scholars to Quran.
So even on the issue of marriage with Ahle-kitab; people don’t ponder over the Quran to seek guidance and blindly follow their set of scholars. Some Muslims believe that marriage with ALL jew / Christian lady is allowed even though she is a msuhrik!!!
Some Muslims believe that today marriage with Jew / Christian is NOT allowed at all!! So we see the different and contradictory ruling on the same matter because of abandoning Quran.
Note: Mushrik refers to a person who associate partner with Almighty God.
C. Revisiting basics
Though Muslims day and night swear that “Quran is the word of Almighty God, we should follow the teachings of Quran into our life, we should rule by Quran” - but when it comes to seeking guidance then first thing people do is set aside Quran and look at other sources.
" The month of Ramadhan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion ……." [Quran, Surah Baqrah 2: 185]
Please mark the purpose of Quran.
It is for whole mankind. Quran is not exclusive property of any particular sect, religion, group of race.
Quran contains clear proofs. The proofs given by Quran are self explanatory.
Quran is for guidance purpose. We MUST seek guidance from Quran.
Quran is the criterion – it means in any matter Quran will have the last say; what is right and what is wrong – what Quran decides will be final.
Those who don’t follow rulings from Quran are kafir and fasiq and zalim as per Quran.
.... If any do fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are Unbelievers (kaferoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:44]
... And if any fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are wrong-doers (Zalemoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:45]
Let the people of the Gospel judge by what Allah hath revealed therein. If any do fail to judge by what Allah has revealed, they are those who rebel (Faseqoon). [Quran, Surah Maida 5:47]
To you We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee…….;[Quran, Surah Maida 5:48]
And this (He commands): you judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, but beware of them lest they beguile thee from any of that (teaching) which Allah hath sent down to thee. And if they turn away, be assured that for some of their crime it is Allah’s purpose to punish them. And truly most men are rebellious. [Quran, Surah Maida 5:49]
Above ayah of Quran make very clear that if we judge against the guidance of Quran then it is kufr / zulm / fisq / absolutely wrong. See how much emphasis Allah has given on judging from what he has revealed.
D. Marriage with mushrik is NOT allowed
Quran – the word of Almighty God guide us on this issue in following ayah:
1. Quran, Surah Maida 5:5 – “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 you 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).”
2. Quran, Surah Baqrah 2:221 – “Do not marry mushrik (One who associates partner with GOD) women , until they believe: A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry (your girls) to mushrik until they believe: A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allures you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But Allah beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His Signs clear to mankind: That they may celebrate His praise.”
Going by above two ayah it becomes crystal clear that:
1. Marriage with msuhrik (One who associate partner with GOD) is not allowed – both for men and women. In no any case one can marry a person who associate partner with God. Quran 2:221
2. Marriage with women from people of the book is allowed. Quran 5:5 . Also please note that 5:5 emphasize on marriage with CHASTE women among people of the book.
Combining both ayah we realize that ONLY those women from people of the book are lawful for marriage who are NOT mushrik
The mistake many people make is that they read 5:5 in isolation and think that marriage with ALL Jew or Christian lady is allowed even if she is a mushrik. This disastrous misunderstanding is because of not taking into consideration all similar ayah of a Quran on any particular issue. Let me make it simple.
If you ask a scholar – “Quran, Surah Miada 5:5 makes it lawful to eat food of people of the book. So can a Muslim eat pork made by a Jew or Christian?” The reply would be – “No”. Why? Because we need to look at other ayah over the issue of food and then understand 5:5. When we read Quran then we find that Almighty God prohibits pork in 4 places:
Surah Baqrah 2:173
Surah Maida 5:3
Surah Anam 6:145
Surah Nahal 16:115
So the proper understanding will be that pork is prohibited – no matter it is prepared by Muslims or Non Muslim. Rest of other halal food made by Ahle kitab is permitted.
So 5:5 gives general ruling over food of ahle kitab and marriage with Ahle kitab.
2:173, 5:3, 6:145, 16:115 – makes clear that pork is prohibited in all cases.
2:221 – makes clear that marriage with mushrik is prohibited in all cases.
So Quran makes ample clear that only those ladies from Jews and Christians are lawful for marriage who don’t associate partner with God. It may possible that an Ahle-kitab lady does not believe in Prophet Muhammad or life hereafter but she does not associate partner with God – then marriage with her is allowed. However if she believes:
a. Prophet Jesus to be son of God.
b. Prophet Jesus to be God.
c. Trinity i.e. unification of 3 gods
…… or such thing that makes her mushrik then marriage with such ladies is NOT AT ALL allowed.
Practically speaking today – very few women will fall under this category with whom marriage is allowed.
E. Conclusion
1. It is a misconception to believe that Islam permits marriage with ANY ahle kitab or Jew / Christian.
2. Marriage with any mushrik is not allowed. No matter, male or female – marriage with them is not allowed in any case.
3. Marriage of Muslim man with ahle-kitab woman is allowed ONLY if she is NOT a mushrik. If she believes:
a. Prophet Jesus to be son of God.
b. Prophet Jesus to be God.
c. Trinity i..e unification of 3 gods
…… or such things that makes her msuhrik then marriage with such ladies is NOT AT ALL allowed.
4. Even if very few ladies (among ahle kitab) will fall under such category with which marriage is allowed, one MUST stick to the commandment of God.
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Hello, I understand, pork an alcohol is forbitten.
ReplyDeleteIt's always said, Quran is clear.
For me Vers 5.5 is crystal clear, Moslems are aloud to eat at my table, if I don't serve alcohol or pork.
But why is it, that none of all moslems, who came in my country and ask me for help and support will ever eat at my table, because they consider our food as haram? Well I know, there are regulations how to slaughter a animal, which is halal. This I think is an evention, I would say shirk, because a man, who is not God thought he is like God and can introduce new laws. I know, this understanding of shirk is wrong, but still, if only God can reveal, why are there manmade regulations, sunnah consider as made by God?
Many words, I would like to know, witch verses show clearly, that 5.5 doesn't mean what it is said, but allowes the beleavers not to eat at a table of any unbeliefer or better at a table of a christian?
I am a Muslim, but I have eaten at tables where people from other religions were eating while they ate pork and drank alcohol, but I ate salad or vegetables. I think the issue is personal for some Muslims. If Muslims have so much self control that they will not give in under peer pressure, then they can sit on any table and be themselves, but some Muslims are not so strong and they may get temptation and start using alcohol or pork or other forbidden foods, so they would avoid. Another reason may be if you don't know which food has been prepared with which ingredients, then you may be doubtful. I have to read labels while shopping. When I came to USA, 25 years ago, In New York, there were restaurants using Lard for frying, but the business was not doing well because some Muslims and Jews would not eat there, so the restaurant began using cooking oil to embrace all religious communities to expand their business. Once I was eating a salad with bacon sprinkled over it and my christian coworker informed me and I stopped eating it. She knew about my belief and respected that and when I was eating something I was not supposed to due to my religious belief by ignorance, she corrected me. Its all about respect and tolerance. We are all people of God, called different names in different languages. God bless us all to create peace on this earth.
ReplyDeleteAnonymousJuly 14, 2017 at 3:02 AM
ReplyDelete//* This I think is an evention, I would say shirk, because a man, who is not God thought he is like God and can introduce new laws. I know, this understanding of shirk is wrong, but still, if only God can reveal, why are there manmade regulations, sunnah consider as made by God? *//
This is exactly what shirk is. Addition to the principles and authority of the Creator of the Universe by man made principles.
A female Quran teacher is available to teach Quran to Muslim sisters and daughters. Get in touch with Pak Quran Academy anytime as we are available 24 /7. Female students can learn Quran via Skype after deciding the suitable time of taking class.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this article. It’s such a comfort to know that there are people who understand the truth about the Quran rather than blindly following their scholars. Please make an answering article to even the other verses of the Quran which are considered ‘abrogated’
ReplyDelete