Can I Marry a Non-Muslim Woman?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
Can one have relations with a Non-Believer or marry a Non-Muslim, especially as Muslim women have unrealistic expectations?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate
I would advise you to take the means to marry a believing woman who is suitable and pleasing to you.
Marry On The Basis of Religion and Good Character
Allah Most High encourages us to marry believing spouses. And the Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) calls us to choose our spouse on the basis of religion (din) and good character (husn al-khuluq). He said, “Choose the one with religion, and you shall be successful.” [Bukhari and Muslim]
Allah Most High also cautions us,
“Do not marry unbelieving women until they believe; for a believing slave-woman is better than a free unbeliever, even though she may look pleasant to you… They invite ˹you˺ to the Fire while Allah invites ˹you˺ to Paradise and forgiveness by His grace.1 He makes His revelations clear to the people so perhaps they will be mindful.” [Quran, 2:221]
As the great authorities of Quran, such as Imam Qurtubi and others mention, the term “mushrik” here encompasses all non-believers.
Relations Outside Marriage
As for sexual relations outside of marriage, the Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him & his folk) referred to them as one of the gravest of the major sins. [Bukhari and Muslim]
And Allah Most High says, “Don’t even come close to prohibited sexual relations. It is truly a shameful deed and an evil way.” [Quran, 17:32]
Allah Is With Those Who Trust in Him and Make Mindful Choices
Allah Most High promises,
“And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them, and provide for them in ways they could never imagine. And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them. Truly, Allah achieves His Will. Allah has already set a destiny for everything.” [Quran, 65:2-3]
Listen to and reflect:
Positive Spiritual Thinking, by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
And Allah is the giver of success and facilitation.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani spent ten years studying with some of the leading scholars of recent times, first in Damascus and Amman, Jordan. His teachers include the foremost theologian of recent times in Damascus, the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas (may Allah have mercy on him), and his student Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi, one of the leading Hanafi fuqaha of the present age. He returned to Canada in 2007, where he founded SeekersGuidance to meet the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge–both online and on the ground–in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He is the author of Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School (White Thread Press, 2004.) Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.
