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:

salam, i wanted to ask a question .. about marriage as one of my firned is facing a problem, that he is sunni and he wants to marry a girl who is shia , so please can you explain in detail that is it allowed or not , and please do mention some hadith or quranic ayat in which ALLAH or Nabi(pbuh) suggested to whom we should marry .. or what we should really find in our partner.. ?? thanks

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Answer:

Shia sunni marriage

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.

Any individual who believes in the Absolute Oneness of Allah Subhanah, believes in all His Revealed Books, believes in all His appointed Messengers, believes in all of the Angels, believes in the concept of the Hereafter, believes in the Divine Decrees of Allah Subhanah; and declares the testification of faith by saying that there is no god except Allah Alone, and Mohamed (saws) is His Messenger, will be considered a legal ‘muslim’ in the Sight of Shariah Law. And being a muslim, all the rights that are due to any muslim will be accorded to him in full: he can marry amongst the muslims, he will inherit his muslim parents, and his children will inherit from him, he can visit the Sacred Mosque in Makkah, he will be given a muslim funeral or ‘janaaza’, etc. All the rights that are due to a brother/sister muslim will be accorded to him/her in full.

Your Question: ….that he is sunni and he wants to marry a girl who is shia , so please can you explain in detail that is it allowed or not

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, regardless of the various differences in belief and practice amongst those who call themselves ‘sunnis’ and those who call themselves ‘shias’; both sects believe with conviction in the Supreme and Absolute Oneness of Allah Subhanah and the appointment of Prophet Mohamed (saws) as Allah’s Last and Final Messenger….thus both, those who call themselves ‘sunnis’ and those who call themselves ‘shias’ are muslims in the Sight of Shariah Law, and a marriage between the two eligible non-mehram muslims would be absolutely valid, legal, and lawful in the Sight of Shariah Law.

Your Question:…..and please do mention some hadith or quranic ayat in which ALLAH or Nabi(pbuh) suggested to whom we should marry ..

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chatper 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 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 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).

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verse 221:

221 Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters) until they believe; a slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman even though she allure you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: a man slave who believes is better than un unbeliever even though he allure you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the fire. But Allah beckons by His grace to the Garden (of Bliss) and forgiveness and makes His Signs clear to mankind: that they may celebrate His praise.

It is permissible in Shariah Law for a believing man to marry a chaste non-mehram muslim woman, or a chaste non-mehram women from amongst the People of the Book (Jews and Christians). Other than marrying a chaste non-mehram woman from amongst the Muslims, Christians, or Jews, it is absolutely forbidden for a believer to marry a woman who holds any pagan or idolatrous belief, unless that woman reverts to Islam.

The believing women are only allowed to marry non-mehram believing men in Islam. It is absolutely forbidden for a believing woman to marry a man who holds any pagan or idolatrous belief, unless that man reverts to Islam.

Your Question: .. or what we should really find in our partner.. ??

Guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) for the men when choosing their bride:

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.27 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth, her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the religious woman (otherwise) you will be a loser."

Guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws) when choosing a groom:

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 3090 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, 'When someone with whose religion and character you are satisfied asks your daughter in marriage, accede to his request. If you do not do so, there will be temptation on earth and extensive corruption.'

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

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan