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:

Asalaam Alaikum, I am a muslim boy who is deeply in love with a christian girl, and want to get married to her. She did thorough reserach about our religion, and she felt very good about it. She even said to me that "my religion doesn`t answer some of the questions that your religion does". Now she has decided to convert to ISLAM (MASHALLAH) so that we can get married(INSHALLAH). It wasn`t easy, but I think, that it was ALLAH`S wish and blessings that made her reach this decision. My parents really like her and are willing to accept her (ALHAMDULILAH), but her parents are objecting to the fact that she has to change the religion in order to get married to me. As a person they like me, but the fact that she has to convert to ISLAM in ordet to get married to me is what they are really against. Secondly, they have a bad understanding of ISLAM due to the acts of some of the muslims who have ashamed our religion. I haven`t spoken to them personally as they live abroad, but this is what my girl friend has said to me after she visited her parents this summer. We both are from respected families (ALHAMDULILAH) and would like your advise on how to solve this problem without hurting either of our families. It will be much appreciated if you can answer this question ASAP, and write to me personally before circulating to the rest of the subscribers. Please. Your Brother in ISLAM

(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:

Marry a christian

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.

All Praise is due to Allah Subhanah Alone, Who has guided the girl you love and intend to marry to Islam. Although a believer is allowed to marry a woman from the People of the Book (Jews and Christians) even if they do not convert to Islam, it is always better and easier if the woman does convert to Islam.

There is no condition that the parents of the girl must also convert to Islam to legalize your marriage; thus there is absolutely no problem as far as your marriage is concerned. It would obviously be a much happier occasion if her parents agreed to the marriage. The best thing to do is talk to them politely and try to give them the true and correct picture of Islam and muslims; or maybe even gift them a copy of the Holy Quran so that they themselves may be able to judge the Truth from the falsehood.

Brother, we obviously cannot guide or advise you on how to solve the issue, without hurting either of the families concerned. It would really depend on how you handle the issue. All we can advise you is to behave in an exemplary Islamic manner when dealing with the girl and her family; and let them experience the high morals and manners of a true believer personally. It is expected that your behavior and patience may melt their hearts and maybe even get them to bless your marriage.

May Allah Subhanah make this trial easy for you, and soften the hearts of the girl’s parents towards 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