Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

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:

My wife is a christian, I realy aprciate any kind of response I get in relation

to quran. what does the quran say about the meriage among christians and muslims.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

What does the Quran say about Marriage with Christians?

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 5: All the good and pure things have today been made lawful for you. The food of the People of the Book is lawful for you, and your food for them. Likewise you are permitted to marry chaste believing women, or chaste women from among the people who were given the Scripture before you, provided that you give them their dowries and become their protectors in wedlock. This permission is not for sensual license or secret illicit relations. Whoever rejects the Way of Faith, all the deeds of his life shall become vain, and he shall be a loser in the Hereafter.

Your comment: Can we marry to a ahle - kitabs. ie christian.

In light of the above aayah of the Holy Quran, Allah has permitted the believing man to marry chaste women from the People of the Book (Jews and Christians). Allah has prohibited the believers to marry with any of the ‘mushriks’ like Hindus, Buddhists, etc. until they believe.

Your comment: Before marriage does she needs to convert herself into islam or she can continue on her same religion.

If the woman is a Jew or a Christian, it is not obligatory for her to convert to Islam before (or after) the marriage; and she is permitted to follow her religion if she wishes to do so.

Your comment: Or after marriage she needs to convert into islam?

If the woman does not wish to convert of her own free will, she is allowed to remain married and practice her religion of Jewism or Christianity. The marriage will be legal and valid in Islam.

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

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan