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Marrying a non-Muslim woman who does not belong to the people of the Book

Question

Salam Aleikum, I am a muslim living in Europe for many years, I knew a Christian girl, but she was following the model of her culture: drinking, smoking, having a boy friend... After I met her, I was talking to her about all matters of life and afterlife, She became convainced of many things, She stopped drinking, smoking, dressing style... The most important is that today she changed a lot, everybody around her is a witness of that changes, myself first. After all the researchs she did herself with my help She is no more convainced in Christianity, at the same time she is closer and closer to Islam. Today she wants us to marry, my question is: - Can I marry her knowing that she was not chaste in her past, she regreted everything though ? - In this situation she is no more Christian as she lost her faith in christianity and she is close to Islam but not muslim yet. so what do I have to do ? PS: She doesn't want to convert quickly to Islam, to be the most covainced possible about the decision she will take.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.

It is impermissible for a Muslim to marry a non-Muslim woman unless she is a chaste woman from the people of the Book (a Christian or a Jew). You have stated that this woman is no longer following the model of her past Christian culture and at the same time did not embrace Islam. If this is the case, it is impermissible for you to marry her. Please refer to Fatwa 88451.

However, if she embraces Islam, becomes a good Muslim, and adheres to the Islamic rites, such as prayer and the like, it is permissible for you to marry her. For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 92546.

It is incumbent on you to end your relationship with this woman so as to guard yourself from the evil schemes of the devil. She may lure you into committing prohibited acts with her and you would thus lose in your religion. Rather, you can seek the help of some good Muslim women who are knowledgeable of Islam to give her the proper attention and guide her to the straight path and embracing Islam.

Lastly, we would like to point out that although a Muslim man is allowed to marry a chaste woman from the people of the Book, it is better for him to marry a righteous Muslim woman who would support him in his life journey. Verily, many problems may arise when a Muslim man marries a woman from the people of the Book, the most serious of which is her (potential) bad influence on the children’s beliefs and morals. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 84159 and 89418.

Allaah Knows best.

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