Why a Muslim man can marry from the...

Egypt's Dar Al-Ifta

Why a Muslim man can marry from the people of the Book whereas Muslim women do not have the same right?

Question

Salam alykum,

I am a mother of three, two boys and one girl and we live in Canada. I am aware that Muslim women are not allowed to marry anyone but a Muslim man. In the Qura'n God forbids marriage from polytheists for both men and women.

I know the rule but where in the Qura'an that allows only men to marry from the people of the book i.e. Christian or Jew. Please quote from the Quran what has been practiced by giving the right to men and prohibit women when the result is one family of different beliefs and their impact on children.

Jazaka Allahu kheir.

Answer

This is mentioned in the words of Allah Almighty, which can be translated as:

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. (Al-Ma'idah, 5).

In this noble verse, Allah Almighty only allowed Muslims to feed the non-Muslims from their foods. This way Allah draws Muslims attention to the fact that the matter of eating slaughtered animals differs from marriage, since it is allowed for Muslims to eat the meat slaughtered by the People of the Book and vice-versa. On the contrary, it is only permissible for Muslim men to marry women from the people of the Book and not the other way round.

Interfaith Marriages in Islam

It is permissible in Islam for a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman (Christian or Jewish) and not vice-versa. Though this may seem unfair, the rationale behind it becomes clear if the true reason is known.

All legislations in Islam are based upon certain wisdom and a definite interest to all parties involved.

Marriage in Islam is based upon love, mercy and peace of mind; a family must be built upon a firm basis to guarantee the continuity of the marital relationship. Islam respects all the previous heavenly revealed religions and the belief in all the previous Prophets is an inseparable part of the Islamic creed.

A Muslim man who marries a Christian or a Jewish woman, is commanded to respect her faith, and it is not permissible for him to prevent his wife from practicing the rites of her religion and going to the church or synagogue. Therefore, Islam seeks to provide the wife with her husband's respect for her religion which in turn protects the family from destruction.

On the other hand, a non-Muslim man will not respect his Muslim wife's faith. This is because a Muslim man believes in all previous religions and Prophets of Allah and respects them while a non-Muslim does not believe nor acknowledges the Prophet of Islam; rather, a non-Muslim considers Prophet Mohammed a false prophet and usually believes in all the fabricated lies made against Islam and its Prophet. Even if a non-Muslim husband does not explicitly express this, a Muslim wife will constantly feel that her husband does not respect her faith. There is no room for compliments regarding this matter; it is a matter of principle. Moreover, mutual respect between spouses is a fundamental element for the continuity of their marital relationship.

Islam follows its own logic when it prohibits a Muslim man from marrying a non-Muslim other than a Christian or a Jewess for the same reason it prohibits a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim.
A Muslim believes in only the Heavenly revealed religions; all other religions are human made. So, in the case when a Muslim woman marries a non-Muslim, the element of respect to the wife's religion will be non-existent. This will affect the marital relationship and will not achieve the love and mercy that is required in a marital relationship.
 

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