Why men can marry christian and jew women?: ..

 

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

As Salam Alwikum I know we should not put question mark where ALLAH puts full stop. But my intellect is unable to understand why Muslim men allowed to marry chaste women of holy books? Why cant Muslim women marry a christian? What about the relegion of offsprings in this case? We all know that unbelievers wont go to heaven and ALLAH knows best, but how can a man develop love and affection with the non Muslim woman, if he knows that she will not be with her forever? Does ALLAH allows marriage with them only for lust of men?

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Answer:

Why men can marry christian and jew women?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: But my intellect is unable to understand why Muslim men allowed to marry chaste women of holy books?

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 5:

5       This day are (all) things good and pure made lawful unto you.  The food of the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) is lawful unto you and yours is lawful unto them.  (Lawful unto you in marriage) are (not only) chaste women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) revealed before your time when ye give them their due dowers and desire chastity not lewdness nor secret intrigues.  If anyone rejects faith fruitless is his work and in the Hereafter he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good).

Firstly, it is not that every beleiver 'must' or can only marry a woman from the People of the Book (Jews or Christians), but rather there is only an allowance and a permission in Shariah Law for a believer to marry a chaste woman from the People of the Book, if indeed he chooses and wishes to do so.  

The wisdom behind this allowance is because the belief and the faith of the People of the Book is ever so close to the belief of the Muslims: they believe in all the tenets of faith like the Oneness of Supreme Creator, the creation of the Angels, the appointment of Messengers, the Revelations of the Divine Scriptures, the Advent of the Last Day, the Concept of Destiny or Qadr, etc.  The only thing they dispute is the appointment of the Last and Final Messenger and the Last Message of the Quran.  If a chaste woman from amongst the People of the Book were to marry a believer, move into a beleiving household and or nation, and interact with the believers' family and friends, this one hurdle can be easily overcome and she would soon accept the Truth of Islam. 

Your Question: Why cant Muslim women marry a christian?

If a believing woman were allowed to marry a man from the People of the Book, move into a disbelieving household and or nation, and interact with the disbelievers family and friends, there is a probability that she would put her adherence to her faith in a severe trial when living amongst the disbelievers. 

Your Question: What about the relegion of offsprings in this case?

If a believer wishes to exercise the allowance and chooses to marry a woman from amongst the People of the Book, the offspring which result from this marriage will be considered and raised up as 'muslims'.

Your Question: We all know that unbelievers wont go to heaven and ALLAH knows best , but how can a man develop love and affection with the non Muslim woman , if he knows that she will not be with her forever?

If the believer who chooses to marry a woman from amongst the People of the Book indeed sincerely loves the woman, it would only be an extension of his love and affection that he would earnestly strive to convince her to accept the Truth of Islam.  If the believing husband is indeed true to his faith in practice, it would not take the Jew or Christian wife too long to realize the accept the Truth of Islam.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is only ones. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brothers and well wishers in Islam,

 

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