Dear Fariha,

Thank you for your question.

First, let me tell you, Islam cares a lot about building sound families. A sound family is built usually on the mutual understanding of the husband and the wife.

Islam made marriage the only possible means of building families. All relations between men and women outside marriage are categorially prohibited in Islam.

A Muslim man is allowed to marry a non-Muslim woman if she is only a Christian or Jewish. A Muslim man is not allowed to marry a Buddhist, a Hindu or an atheist woman.

We read in the Quran what means:

{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…} (Quran 5:5)

In another verse, we read what means:

{And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, 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.} (Quran 2:221)

On the other hand, a Muslim woman is allowed to marry a Muslim man only. She is not allowed to a marry a Christian or a Jewish.

As for the reasons behind this prohibition, we can state the following:

The husband is Islam is the head of the family. He is the one who takes care of the wife and the children.

A Muslim man believes in Jesus and Moses as true prophets of God. Therefore, if he marries a Christian or Jewish woman, he will respect her and her beliefs and allowed her practice them freely.

On the other hand, Christians and Jewish do not accept prophet Muhammad as prophet from God. Therefore, a Christian or Jewish husband will not allow his Muslim wife to practice her Islamic rituals freely.

This in turn will affect the way of bringing the future children. A Muslim husband will bring up his children from a Christian or Jewish wife according to the teachings of Islam which respect both Jesus and Moses.

On the contrary, a polytheist or Christian or Jewish husband will not allow a Muslim wife to bring up her children according to the teachings of Islam.

Therefore, Islam prohibits a Muslim woman from marrying a non-Muslim man.

 

Please keep in touch.