Answering Questions Through The Holy Qur'an: Can a Muslim man or woman marry a Non-Muslim?

Can a Muslim man or woman marry a Non-Muslim?

5:5 This day good things are made lawful for you; and the food of those who were given the Book is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Book before you, when you have given them their bridal due, being chaste, not being lewd, nor ones (who are) taking secret lovers. And whoever denies the faith - then surely his deeds are wasted and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.

(According to the context of Verse 5:5, “this day good things are made lawful for you,” a disbeliever (Christians and Jews) cannot be considered a “good thing” (lawful thing). Furthermore, other Verses do not support disbelievers being lawful for marriage (2:221, 60:10), noting instead that only some Christians and Jews are true believers-“Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient” (3:110). While some Jews and Christians might not initially know about the Qur’an, once they know about it, they are required to follow it lest they become disbelievers (46:10, 2:135, 5:19, 61:6, 3:4). And this is also because Muhammad was sent to all of mankind (7:158, 34:28, 3:96, 21:107, 6:19, 36:70, 25:1), including Jews and Christians. Notice that Verse 5:5 concludes by stating: “And whoever denies the faith – then surely his deeds are wasted and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.” Therefore, the phrase “those who were given the Book before you” in Verse 5:5 refers to those who were previously Christians and Jews but have since believed in the Qur’an and converted to Islam. Thus, Verse 5:5 permits marriage to this group of former people of the Book who embraced Islam) (While Verse 5:5 appears to distinguish between “believers” and “those who were given the Book before you” (Jews and Christians), the Verses of the Qur’an do not contradict one another; they complement each other. Harmonizing this with the entire Qur’an, the only possible interpretation is that Muslims may marry those who were previously called “Christian” or “Jew” provided they have converted to Islam (believed in the Qur’an). It cannot be interpreted as allowing Muslims to marry non-Muslims. The Verse refers exclusively to marrying believers who have accepted Islam, because if they reject Islam, they remain disbelievers. The Verse does not validate Christians / Christianity or Jews / Judaism, as such a validation is unsupported elsewhere in the Qur’an) (Further evidence that Verse 5:5 refers strictly to allowing believers/Muslims for marriage is its parallel statement regarding food: “the food of those who were given the Book is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them.” While this might seem to address two different categories of food, it actually speaks of the same food, as that which is forbidden in the Bible is likewise forbidden in the Qur’an (see the link below, “Can you eat non-halal meat?”). The Qur’an is not a new religion, but rather the religion of Abraham found in the Bible; however, the Qur’an is necessary as a Criterion to discern what is true in the Bible versus what was falsely added, as one must not mix truth with falsehood.)(Additionally, according to Verse 3:85, no religion other than Islam (Submission) will be accepted. Verse 5:5 is therefore speaking about one community (Muslims) and one religion (Islam)) (A secondary (and less likely) interpretation of Verse 5:5 is that it could refer to the rare instance of Christians and Jews strictly following what is correct in their scriptures at that time. To be lawful for marriage under this view, they would have had to adhere to the true in the Gospel and the Torah, which is also contained in the Qur’an. Because the People of the Book differ among themselves, the Qur’an acts as the Criterion to determine what is true in Bible (3:3-4, 5:48). Good and righteous Jews and Christians would not reject the Qur’an once they heard it if they were true believers) (See the links below: “Is the Bible corrupted?”, “Do the Jews have to follow the Qur’an / Islam?” and “Do Christians have to follow the Qur’an/Islam?”)(Allah knows best)

2:221 And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing bondwoman is better than a polytheistic woman, even if she pleases you. And do not give in marriage to polytheistic men until they believe, and a believing bondman is better than a polytheistic man, even if he pleases you. They invite to the Fire, and Allah invites to Paradise and forgiveness by His permission. And He makes clear His Verses for people so that they may take heed.

(Many Christians fall into idolatry, disbelief, and fornication. It is forbidden to the believers) (Allah knows best)

24:3 The fornicator (will) not marry except a fornicatress, or a polytheist woman, and the fornicatress - (will) not marry except a fornicator or a polytheist man. And that is forbidden to the believers.

(Fornicators, fornicatresses, polytheistic woman, and polytheistic men are explicitly forbidden to the believers (24:3)) (If fornicators are married, how can they still be called fornicators? The Verse is interpreted as meaning that a person who habitually engages in illicit relations (a fornicator) is not a suitable partner for a chaste believer. In other words, if you marry those who are forbidden, you become a fornicator (just for marrying to them) or a polytheist like them (Polytheism understood as following rules other than God’s rules-for example, when human authorities explicitly legalize actions that God has forbidden, or vice versa. Other Verses support that following people instead of God, or opposing God, is polytheism) (Verse 4:140 says, “... do not sit with them until they engage in a conversation other than that. Indeed, you then, (would be) like them. Indeed, Allah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together”) (Allah knows best)

60:10 O you who believe, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, then examine them. Allah is most knowing of their faith. And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers. They are not lawful for them, nor are they lawful for them. But give them what they have spent. And there is no blame upon you if you marry them when you have given them their (bridal) dues. And do not hold to marriage bonds with disbelieving women, but ask for what you have spent, and let them ask for what they have spent. That is the Judgment of Allah. He judges between you. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.

(Verse 60:10 is clear: “do not hold to marriage bonds with disbelieving women,” so Muslim men cannot marry disbelieving women. And believing women cannot marry disbelieving men, because Verse 60:10 says, “if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers. They are not lawful for them, nor are they lawful for them”) (Allah knows best)

4:25 And whoever among you is not able to marry free chaste believing women, then from those whom you rightfully possess of believing girls. And Allah knows all about your faith. You are of one another. So marry them with the permission of their family and give them their bridal due in a fair manner. Chaste, not committing immorality and not taking secret lovers. Then if after marriage they commit adultery, then their punishment is half of that which is for free chaste women. That is for whoever among you who fears committing sin, and to be patient is better for you. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

(Verse 4:25 confirms that even those whom you rightfully possess have to be believers in order to marry them) (Allah knows best)

5:72 They certainly disbelieve who say, "Indeed Allah - He is the Messiah, the son of Mary." While the Messiah said, "O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord." Indeed, he who associates partners with Allah, then surely Allah has forbidden Paradise for him, and his abode will be the Fire. And there will be no helpers for the wrongdoers.

(Trinitarian Christians are disbelievers (5:72-73, 4:171). They are not lawful for marriage) (Allah knows best)

5:73 They have certainly disbelieved, those who say, "Indeed, Allah is the third of three." And there is no god except the One God. And if they do not desist from what they are saying, a painful punishment will surely afflict those who disbelieved among them.

4:171 O People of the Book, do not commit excess in your religion and do not say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a spirit from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Glory be to Him, that He (should) have a son for Him. To Him whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.

3:64 Say, "O People of the Book, come to a word that is equitable between us and you - that we worship none except Allah, nor we associate any partners with Him and that we will not take others as lords besides Allah." Then if they turn away, then say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims."

(The People of the Book are required to worship none except God) (Allah knows best)

5:19 O People of the Book, surely there has come to you Our Messenger, he makes clear to you (after) an interval of the Messengers, lest you say, "There came not to us any bringer of good tidings or a warner." But surely there has come to you a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And Allah is on every thing All-Powerful.

(Christians and Jews are required to follow the Qur’an and become Muslims (i.e., submit to God)) (Allah knows best)

61:6 And when Jesus, the son of Mary, said, "O children of Israel, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad." But when he came to them with clear evidences, they said, "This is obvious magic."

(Jesus was sent to the Children of Israel, and he announced to them the coming of Muhammad) (Muhammad was sent to all of mankind (34:28, 7:158, 34:28, 3:96, 21:107, 6:19, 36:70), including Jews and Christians, so they are required to follow the Qur’an) (See the link below: “Is Muhammad mentioned in the Bible?”) (Allah knows best)

3:4 Before (this), as guidance for mankind. And (He) revealed the Criterion. Verily, those who disbelieved in the Verses of Allah, for them is a severe punishment. And Allah is All-Mighty, All-Able of retribution.

(Those who do not believe in the Verses of the Qur’an are disbelievers) (Allah knows best)

3:110 You are the best of people raised for mankind - enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong and believing in Allah. And if the People of the Book had believed, surely it would have been good for them. Among them are believers, but most of them are defiantly disobedient.

(In regard to Muhammad’s alleged wives, it is said that Rayhana Bint Zayd was Jewish, and Maria al-Qibtiyya was a Coptic Christian, but such tittle would indicate their previous religion. If Muhammad married them, then they both had to sincerely convert to Islam (i.e., “Submission (to God)”) before marrying Muhammad) (If Muhammad’s alleged wives were still called Jewish or Christian after their conversion, that is defamation, and such a title might mislead people in this matter) (Allah knows best)

See also: Can you marry a married man or woman?

https://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2016/06/can-you-marry-married-man-or-woman-is.html

See also: Can you take non-Muslims as friends?

http://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2016/08/can-you-take-non-muslims-as-friends.html

See also: Can Muslims say Salam (Peace) to Non-Muslims?

http://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2016/03/can-muslims-say-salam-peace-to-non.html

See also: What to do with disbeliever family?

https://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2017/06/what-to-do-with-disbeliever-family.html

See also: Is it allowed in Islam to have relations with maids/slaves without marrying? Is adultery permitted?

https://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2016/04/is-it-allowed-in-islam-to-have.html

See also: Do the Jews have to follow the Qur’an / Islam?

https://aqtthq.blogspot.com.es/2016/09/in-which-surah-chapter-of-quran.html