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:

I am a 34 year old muslim divorcee and want to marry a Hindu. He is willing to convert to Islam for the purpose of marriage. He has also agreed that my children will follow islam. what are the procedures for conversion and what does he have to do? Is it haram to marry a non muslim? 

(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:

Muslim lady marrying hindu

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.

Your Question: Is it haram to marry a non muslim? 

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 221 (part):Do not wed your women to ‘mushrik’ men, unless they believe.

It is absolutely forbidden in Islam for a believing woman to marry a non-believing man, unless the man accepts Islam. If the Hindu man you want to marry accepts Islam with his own free will, then there is absolutely no harm in you marrying the person. The marriage will be considered legal and valid, and all the rights due to a muslim will be assigned to the person.

Your Question: what are the procedures for conversion and what does he have to do?

The only procedure required for one to enter Islam is to verbally testify the following: ‘Laa ilaaha illalaah, Mohamed ar Rasool Allah’ (There is no god but Allah Alone, and Mohamed (saws) is Allah’s Messenger). As soon as he declares this testification, he enters the fold of Islam.

Dear Sister, if the Hindu man you wish to marry declares the above testification, he will be considered a muslim in the eyes of Islamic Law and the believers; and all the rights that are due to a muslim will be due to him. But if the person is only saying the above testification verbally and not with his heart for the sole purpose of marrying a believing woman, then he will have to give a very severe accounting in the Court of Allah on the Day of Judgement!

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