Interfaith marriage in Islam

Interfaith marriages are recognized between Muslims and non-Muslim People of the Book (usually enumerated as Jews, Christians, and Sabians[1]).

In some societies outside the traditional dar al-islam, interfaith marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims are not uncommon, including marriages that contradict ijma (the consensus of fuqāha) as to the bounds of legitimacy. In the United States, for example, about one in ten Muslim women are married to non-Muslims, including about one in six Muslim women under 40 and about 20% of Muslim women who describe themselves as less devoutly religious. In Lebanon, a Muslim man can only marry a Christian woman if she converts to Islam. [2]

More recently, studies have also been undertaken about attitudes towards interfaith marriages in Muslim majority countries.[3]

Marriage of Muslim men to non-Muslim women
See also: Marital conversion § Islam

Islamic marriage rules between Muslim men and non-Muslim women are regulated by Islamic principles. There are restrictions to whom a Muslim man can marry which are further explained below.


According to Qur'an (5:5)[4],

"This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, 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, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers".

From this verse, it can be understood that Muslim men are allowed to marry women from the People of the Book (i.e. the Jews and Christians).


The Quran (2:221)[5] also states,

"And do not marry Polytheist women until they believe, And a believing slave woman is better than a Polytheist women, even though she might please you. And do not marry Polytheist men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a Polytheist men, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses to the people that perhaps they may remember".

From this verse, it can be understood that Muslim man is not allowed to marry women who is polytheist unless she becomes Muslim.


Having all the above verses taken into account, it can be concluded that Muslim men can marry non-Muslim women with following conditions:

  • Muslim men can marry the woman from the People of the Book (i.e. the Jews and Christians)
  • Muslim men cannot marry polytheistic women unless she converts.

Muslim women can not marry non-Muslim men. Despite this, interfaith marriage between Muslim women and non-Muslim men has been a highly sensitive topic across the Muslim world for centuries, as it is considered to be a violation of Islamic law by the consensus of scholars. Although there are changes, it is still banned in many Muslim societies. While the law permits a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman, it does not allow a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man without proof of his conversion to Islam. Almost all Islamic nations prohibit it. Tunisia is one of the few Muslim majority countries where Muslim women are allowed to marry non-Muslims.[6]

In parts of the diaspora, interfaith marriages between Muslim women and non-Muslims take place at substantial rates, contravening ijma. For example, in the United States, about 10% of Muslims are married to non-Muslims.[7]

Conversion to Islam of one spouse in a non-Muslim marriage

Under Islamic law, if a non-Muslim woman is married to a non-Muslim man, and she converts to Islam, the marriage is suspended until her husband converts to Islam. She could, in theory, leave the non-Muslim husband and marry a Muslim one. If the non-Muslim husband does convert a new marriage is not needed. In the Quran, it is said,

O ye who believe! When there come to you believing women refugees, examine (and test) them: God knows best as to their Faith: if ye ascertain that they are Believers, then send them not back to the Unbelievers. They are not lawful (wives) for the Unbelievers, nor are the (Unbelievers) lawful (husbands) for them. But pay the Unbelievers what they have spent (on their dower), and there will be no blame on you if ye marry them on payment of their dower to them. But hold not to the guardianship of unbelieving women: ask for what ye have spent on their dowers, and let the (Unbelievers) ask for what they have spent (on the dowers of women who come over to you). Such is the command of God. He judges (with justice) between you. And God is Full of Knowledge and Wisdom. {Surah 60:10}

Modern practice

In practice, many Arab countries allowed interfaith marriage to Christian or Jewish women but not to non-Muslim men.[8] In Lebanon for example there is no civil personal status law and marriages are performed according to the religion of the spouses. There, Muslim women cannot marry non-Muslim men, whereas this is possible vice versa,[9] at least if the spouse is a Christian or Jewish woman. Turkey allows marriages to non-Muslim men through secular laws.[10] In Tunisia since 16 September 2017, Muslim women can lawfully marry any man of any faith, or of none. In Malaysia, a non-Muslim must convert to Islam in order to marry a Muslim. The offspring of such unions are automatically Muslims and all Malaysian Muslims are legally prohibited from leaving Islam (Riddah).[11]

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See also

Love Marriage Problem USA

Notes
  1. John L. Esposito, ed. (2014). "Ahl al-Kitab". The Oxford Dictionary of Islam. Oxford: Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195125580.001.0001. ISBN 9780195125580.
  2. http://www.pewforum.org/2017/07/26/identity-assimilation-and-community/pf_2017-06-26_muslimamericans-02new-04/
  3. Jana Van Niekerk & Maykel Verkuyten (2018) Interfaith marriage attitudes in Muslim majority countries: A multilevel approach, The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 28:4, 257-270. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10508619.2018.1517015
  4. "The Noble Qur'an". quran.com. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  5. "The Noble Qur'an". quran.com. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
  6. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41278610
  7. http://www.pewforum.org/2017/07/26/identity-assimilation-and-community/pf_2017-06-26_muslimamericans-02new-04/
  8. The Need to Unify Personal Status Laws in Arab Countries Archived April 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  9. "More Lebanese opting for civil marriage abroad | News , Lebanon News". The Daily Star. Retrieved 2015-11-24.
  10. TWENTY-FIRST-CENTURY LOVING: NATIONALITY, GENDER, AND RELIGION IN THE MUSLIM WORLD Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Marriage Procedures Between Muslim and Non-Muslim Archived August 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
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