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 interested in marrying a christian who is interested in becoming muslim. She is very much into decorating and wants to put up a christmas tree and lights. She says that putting up a christmas tree never had any religious significance. It was purely for decorating the house and she likes the way it looks. Is this ok for her to do? If I do not approve of this and she does it anyway, is it ok for me to marry her and accept it? Let`s say that I am already married to her and she becomes muslim and still wants to put up a christmas tree. Can I still remain married to her? 

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Answer:

Muslim marrying 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.

Allah has permitted a believing man to marry women from among the Jews and the Christians, who are permitted to practice their own faiths even after marriage.

But if the woman has truly accepted Islam, one should try to convince her to leave her previous religious practices and adopt Islamic practices, and obey and follow Allah and His Messenger (saws).

The Christmas tree is a Christian practice, belief and ritual and has absolutely nothing to with Islam. But it is not a thing which effects one’s marriage in any way. Rather than argue and fight with the wife on a small issue, it would be prudent if the man himself did not participate in the ritual, and tried to convince his wife with love, patience and understanding to leave these pagan rituals and come whole-heartedly into the fold of Islam. This would have a better and long-lasting effect and solve the problem from the very core of the issue. It does not behove a believer, who truly believes in Allah and the Last Day, to follow any pagan practices after they have accepted 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