Should I Marry a Nice Girl Who Is Not Religious at All?
Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad
Question
I met a Muslim girl at work. We have different cultural backgrounds, but we get along well. She and her family are nice people. The problem is that she doesn’t practice and neither does her family. They only celebrate Eids and the father sometimes goes to the mosque on Fridays. Her parents used to drink alcohol, but now they don’t. She also doesn’t care how she dresses from an Islamic point of view. My brain says it’s not a good option for marriage and my heart says maybe she will change. Can you advise?
Answer
Thank you for your question. May Allah reward you for considering her religiousness before making such a huge decision.
Run Away
You should run away from this girl as you would from a house that is on fire. Don’t ever consider marrying a girl who doesn’t practice the basics of the religion; do not make her the mother of your children. What your conscience is telling you is right, and you should listen to it.
Always follow the advice of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) who said to us, and it applies to both genders: “A woman is married for four things: for her wealth, for her lineage, for her beauty or her piety. Select the pious or your hands will be covered in dust!” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Please see these links as well:
- Marriage in Islam: Practical Guidance for Successful Marriage. [Course]
- Is It Enough to Marry Someone Who Has Good Character but No Piety?
- Is a Muslim Woman Allowed to Marry a Non-Religious Man Who Is a Singer?
- Can I Marry a Non-Practicing Muslim Man of Good Character?
- Can I Marry a Non-Practising Muslim Man?
May Allah give you the best of this world and the next.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
