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Fatwa CenterSon Married US Christian for Green Card
Question
My son migrated to USA for studies while 20 years of age, at the age of 22 he married with his teacher of 65 years of age, marriage was according to American way, not Muslim way. No Nikah was performed, although the Imam in mosque told him that he can marry a Christian woman; it is allowed in Islam. They are living together but my son claims that they have not had intercourse or such relationship. He wanted to get green card, which he got. Now he want to marry a Muslim girl of his age. Being parents we are trying to help him to get rid of Christian woman and marry a Muslimah. Question is that what about his past life, is it a great sin? If he repents really will God Almighty forgive him? I need your help to get references in Qur'an or Hadith to show my son that he has done something very wrong without the information and consulting parent and now he should get rid of this woman and convert himself to be true Muslim, He is reading Qur'an; he prays most of the time and specially JUMA prayers in Mosque.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
If this American lady is from the People of the Book (Jewish or Christian) and if this young man has made his marriage contract with her in the presence of her guardian and two witnesses, then their marriage is valid even if the marriage contract was established by an American judge.
This young man should have sought the advice of his parents and told them about his marriage as informing them is part of their right on him.
As for his divorcing this woman, then it depends; if he believes that she might become Muslim, it is better for him to keep her in order to gain this great reward.
But if he does not believe that she would become Muslim, he can divorce her and marry a young Muslim woman as to keep chaste and have children.
Allah knows best.
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