How to Marry a Non-Muslims Lady Who is Willing to Accept Islam?

Question:

Assalaamu ‘alaykum. A Muslim boy wants to marry a girl who will turn Muslim, insha’Allah, but her parents are non-muslim, Hindu I think, so how does this nikah need to be done?

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

The Conditions of the Nikah

By ‘boy’ and ‘girl’, I assume you mean two consenting adults. Marriage can be conducted by any scholar, and the conditions of a nikah, such as an offer and acceptance and the presence of the witnesses, need to be fulfilled (Quduri, Matan al Quduri).

Delaying Marriage to a New Covert

You may not want to hear this, but I do not advise you to go ahead with this marriage immediately. Accepting a new religion is a big change, especially if the family of the convert adhere to a different religion. There is a lot of change in one’s life, and it can be very stressful.

Marriage is also a big change, and coupling these factors will not be easy. I’ve seen such cases before, and they don’t end well. If she is sincere in her desire to accept Islam help her through the process and let her mature in her faith and practice. Then consider marriage at a later date when it will be more likely to work.

May Allah facilitate matters for you all.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History he moved to Damascus in 2007 where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital and he was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.