Marrying a non-Muslim is forbidden according to the Islam, Quran and Hadith. It is clearly prohibited and there are a number of valid reasons behind it.
Allah Most High says:
Do not marry unbelieving women until they believe. A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though if she attracts you. And not marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe. A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though if he attracts 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 receive admonition. [Al-Baqarah, 221]
Muslim Life Partner?
This above verse of surah Al-Baqarah directly indicates the prohibition of marrying a non-Muslim partner. The inter-marriage between a Muslim man/woman and a non-Muslim man/woman is something that will not get validity or acceptance. However, it won’t be lawful in the eyes of Islam, Quran and Sunnah. The exception is mentioned in the following verse:
Lawful unto you in marriage are chaste women who are believers and chaste women among the people of the book. [Al-Ma’idah, 5]
In Islam, it is permissible for a Muslim man to marry a woman from Ahle-Al Kitab, a Christian or a Jewish subjected to certain conditions.
They have to obey the rules set by the husband; Islam will be prominent. They are all monotheistic religions and known as the Abrahamic faiths. The basic difference between Islam and the other two religions is the belief in the last Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace). Therefore, the fear and danger of corruption is less as compared to marrying with women from other faiths, thus Islam gave this permission for Muslim men to marry Christian and Jewish girls.
The reason behind the prohibition of marrying a non-Muslim is, the marriage is an institution of mutual trust, belief, respect, love and intimacy. Without all these, a marriage can’t sustain. It is also about sharing religious thoughts and mutual participation of the religious rituals on a regular basis. In this situation, there must be a close inclination of emotional intimacy between the partners. Thus, it is also possible for the Muslim partner to incline towards the non-Muslim activities even though he is a promising believer. He may unknowingly participate in Kufr (disbelief-activities) with the partner. This will drain all of his swab (good deeds, rewards for salat etc.) which will lead him to Jahannam even though shirk or kufr might not remain in heart.
This is why Allah Almighty said towards the end of the verse of Surah al-Baqarah quoted above:
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 receive admonition. ( 221) [See: Ma’arif al-Qur’an, 1/ 540]
Therefore, a fear of leaving Islam and adopting another religion is one of the very crucial reasons that one should think about.
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious and Most Merciful (Before opening chapter)
Almighty Allāh extends His forgiveness to one and all. Allāh Almighty says in the Holy Qurān:
قُلْ يَاعِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ (سورة الزمر، رقم الآية 53)
Say, “O My bondsmen who have transgressed their souls! Never lose hope of Allāh’s Mercy. Verily Allāh forgives all sins. Undoubtedly, He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [Qurān 39:53]
In this verse, Allāh Ta’alā makes a general announcement to everyone that He forgives all sins, whether major or minor. If any individual sincerely repents to Allāh Ta’ālā, then Allāh Ta’ālā will wipe out his evil deeds and purify his heart. Allāh Almighty says in another place in the Qurān:
I am most forgiving for the one who repents. [Qurān 20:82]
The Messenger of Allāh, Muhammad Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam (May Allāh’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) also comforted mankind by assuring them of the Kindness and Forgiveness of Allāh. Consider the following narrations of the Messenger of Allāh (May Allāh’s Peace and Blessings be upon him):
إِنَّ اللهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ لِيَتُوبَ مُسِيءُ النَّهَارِ، وَيَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِالنَّهَارِ لِيَتُوبَ مُسِيءُ اللَّيْلِ، حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَغْرِبِهَا (صحيح مسلم، بَابُ قَبُولِ التَّوْبَةِ مِنَ الذُّنُوبِ وَإِنْ تَكَرَّرَتِ الذُّنُوبُ وَالتَّوْبَةُ)
The Messenger of Allāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “Indeed Allāh Most Powerful and Most Magnificent spreads out His forgiveness at night for the sinners of the day to repent. He spreads out his forgiveness in the day time for the sinners of night to repent. This process continues so long as the sun does not rise from the West (Day of Judgment). (Sahīh Muslim)
رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: ” قَالَ اللَّهُ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى: يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِي وَرَجَوْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ عَلَى مَا كَانَ فِيكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي، يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ لَوْ بَلَغَتْ ذُنُوبُكَ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِي غَفَرْتُ لَكَ، وَلَا أُبَالِي (سنن الترمذى، رقم الحديث 3540)
The Messenger of Allāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “Allāh said, “O son of Adam, if you beseech me and hope from me, I will forgive you in whatever condition you may be, and this does not matter to me. O son of Adam, even if your sins are so plenty that they reach the sky and then you seek my forgiveness, I will still forgive you. [Sunan al-Tirmidhi]
قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَلَّهُ أَفْرَحُ بِتَوْبَةِ أَحَدِكُمْ مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ بِضَالَّتِهِ إِذَا وَجَدَهَا (سنن الترمذى، رقم الحديث 3538)
The Messenger of Allāh Sallallāhu Alaihi Wa Sallam said, “When one of you seeks the forgiveness of Allāh, Allāh becomes more overjoyed than one of you if he happened to find his lost belonging.
FAQs
Is It Haram To Get Married To Someone From Another Religion?
Yes, according to Quran and Sunnah it is completely prohibited to marry someone from other religion or a non-Muslim.
Will Allah Forgive Me For Haram Relationship?
For someone to have repentance accepted, he or she must stop the haram relationship and return to Allah’s commandment only.
What Are The Islamic Laws In Interfaith Marriage?
Muslims cannot marry non-Muslims as basic principle of Islam. Only exception is for Muslim men to marry Christian or Jew women (people of the book) who do not engage in Shirk (associating partners with Allah). This is not recommended and only acceptable under certain strict conditions, e.g. the woman is living in a Muslim country where Islam is dominant.
Regarding marrying polytheist women (e.g. Hindu, Buddhist or even atheist), this is totally prohibited.
Such prohibited marriages are invalid in Islam and for repentance one must seek divorce or ask the partner to immediate revert to Islam.
Last Words
Allah is always there to forgive the repenters. He is the most merciful, most kind being. May we all be sincere in our deeds and follow the rules set by the almighty.
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I am a devoted Christian man and have been married to a Muslim woman for 24 years with two sons..She is now saying that our marriage is not right under Muslim rights. My question is will she go to hell for this?? After 24 years will it be acceptable for her to leave me and my son’s because of her guilt??
Who will go to hell or heaven, Only Allah (SWT) knows best. However, if she recognizes her sin from her heart and pray to Allah (SWT) to forgive her sin, May Allah forgive her.
Allah knows the best.
She is lying to get a divorce. Islam allows marriage to christians and Jews.