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Fatwas / Marriage and Breastfeeding / The ruling on marrying a woman of the People of the Book, according to the four Madha

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What is the ruling on marrying a woman of the People of the Book (i.e. a Jewish or Christian woman), according to the four Madhabs? حكم نكاح الكتابية على المذاهب الأربعة

Answer

 All praise is due to Allah alone, and may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and his companions. To answer your question, we say while seeking all the success from Allah: Marriage to a woman of the People of the Book, a Jewish or Christian woman, is permissible based on the statement of Allah, the Most High, wherein He said (interpretation of the meaning): {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.} [Quran 5:5]. This is the view of the majority of scholars from the early and the later ones, including Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Malik, Imam al-Shafi’e and Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal. However, it was reported that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) disliked Muslims to marry a Christian, so he said: “I do not know of a greater shirk than her saying that Jesus is her lord." That being said, I will offer you the same advice that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) gave in regards to the reasons for which a woman is wanted for marriage: It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (may the Salah and Salam of Allah be upon him) said: “A woman is sought as a wife for her wealth, beauty, social status, or religiousness (adherence to Islam), but choose a religious woman and you will prosper.” Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim Obviously, neither Christian nor Jewish women meet the requirement of religiousness; therefore you should find yourself a pious Muslim woman that you can trust your wealth, children and honor with. The ruling of permissibility to marry a woman from the People of the Book is applicable only if you are certain that your religion will not be compromised, and that she will not have authority over you, as is the case when some Muslims immigrate to non-Muslim countries and marry from there. May Allah guide all of us to that which is good. And Allah knows best.

Your brother,

Khalid al-Muslih  

23/09/1424 A.H.


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