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 would like a direct answer to the following. Many people abroad marry cousins or good family friends from the home country, in order to help get the person a european Passport/visa etc. That sounds more like a business deal then a marriage of sanctity between 2 people and in many cases is just that. Secondly many men when they go abroad they will marry a non muslim in order to obtain citizenship/visa/passport etc, is that really ok in Islam? Knowing the marriage has had one intention only and the woman and man live together until he is granted his wish and then they divorce. The woman never has intentions of converting to islam. Its a pure relationship based on money given to her for marrying him. What does Islam say on these 2 things. It occurs more often than I would care to know and I find it wrong. Immoral and dishonest. But seeing many are doing it it must be ok with Islam and Allah? or is it not? 

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Answer:

Is it legal to marry for Nationality purpose?

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 statement: Many people abroad marry cousins or good family friends from the home country, in order to help get the person a european Passport/visa etc. That sounds more like a business deal then a marriage of sanctity between 2 people and in many cases is just that.

Beloved sister, Allah Subhanah has not given man the knowledge of what is in the hearts or what are the intentions of other men! If one proposes to marry his cousin, or non-mehram family member from his home country; that marriage will be deemed legal in the sight of Shariah. If one gets a green card, or a passport after marriage, there is absolutely no harm. Allah Alone knows their intentions, for He Alone knows the Truth of all things. It is not for us to decide and judge people and their intentions.

Your statement: Secondly many men when they go abroad they will marry a non muslim in order to obtain citizenship/visa/passport etc, is that really ok in Islam? Knowing the marriage has had one intention only and the woman and man live together until he is granted his wish and then they divorce. The woman never has intentions of converting to islam. Its a pure relationship based on money given to her for marrying him.

If a believing man goes to a foreign country, and legally marries a non-muslim woman from among the People of the Book (Jew or a Christian), that marriage would be legal in the sight of Shariah. But if he marries any other non-muslim woman from any other faith, it would not be legal in Islam, unless she first converted to Islam.

Again, there is just no way to know the intention of the man who does such a thing; his accounting will be in the Court of Allah Subhanah. If the man married the woman only to gain his entry into a country with the intention of divorce as soon as he got his legal papers, he will indeed be guilty of being dishonest and deceitful, and will have a severe accounting on an Inevitable Day! But in the life of this world, his marriage will be deemed legal, and all the rights due to a muslim will be given to him.

Your Statement: But seeing many are doing it it must be ok with Islam and Allah?

Sister, dishonesty, lying, fraud, deceit, treachery, etc. are NEVER EVER ‘ok’ with Islam and Allah Subhanah!!!!! Just because many people are doing it, it does not mean it is ‘ok’ with Islam and Allah Subhanah! Allah created the trial of life and death, and allowed the good to do their deeds, and the evil to do their deeds until an appointed time; then everyone will be brought forth in the Presence of the Majestic Lord on an Inevitable Day, and He will Judge each with Absolute Justice according to one’s deeds.

Allah Subhanah and His Deen of Islam are nothing but the Truth, and nothing but the Truth and Right can be attributed to Him!

Allah says in the Holy Quran regarding Himself in Chapter 59 Surah Hashr verses 22-24:

22 Allah is He, than whom there is no other god, Who knows (all things) both secret and open; He is the Most Gracious Most Merciful.

23 Allah is He, than whom there is no other god; the Sovereign, the Holy One, the Source of Peace (and Perfection). The Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Safety, the Exalted in Might, the Irresistible, the Supreme: Glory to Allah! (High is He) above the partners they attribute to Him.

24 He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or colors). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: Whatever is in the heavens and on earth doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the exalted in Might, the Wise.

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