Muslim Men Can Marry Disbelieving Women?

There is a huge misconception that has infiltrated the Muslim ummah: the idea that Muslim men can marry disbelieving or Mushrik women, particularly Christian women who worship Jesus. Let’s look at what the Quran says regarding this matter.

Allah SWT says in 2:221:

"And do NOT marry (Al-Mushrikati) ASSOCIATING women UNTIL THEY BELIEVE. And a believing servant woman is better than an ASSOCIATOR, even though she might please you. And do not marry (Al-Mushrikina) ASSOCIATING men until they BELIEVE. And a believing servant is better than an ASSOCIATOR, even though he might please you."

This verse is explicit. It tells believers, both men and women, not to marry Mushriks. Then Allah continues to tell us why:

"…Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses to the people that perhaps they may remember."

Allah also tells us in 60:10:

"…Do not keep the marriage bonds with disbelieving women…"

For example, if you are in a marriage and you are a believer, but your wife stops believing and converts to disbelief, you cannot stay married to that woman. We also have to remember that when the Quran was being delivered, some people believed and accepted the message while others did not. If that were the case within a marriage, with the man believing but the wife rejecting the message, he would not be able to remain married to her.

So in this verse, Allah is telling believing men not to stay married to disbelieving women. Therefore, it would be contradictory to say that a believer can marry a disbelieving woman when Allah has just said that you cannot remain married to one.

Now, many Muslims try to draw this understanding from Surah 5:5:

"This day are made lawful (Al-Tayibatu) THE GOOD THINGS, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you…"

They say that because Allah SWT says they can marry women among the People of the Book, that means they can marry Christians and Jews even if they are committing shirk.

That is simply incorrect. I want to bring your attention back to the first sentence of the verse:

"This day are made lawful (Al-Tayibatu) THE GOOD THINGS…"

In this verse, Allah SWT is making lawful for them GOOD THINGS. Then He goes on to tell us what some of those good things are.

They can marry believing women, which is a good thing. They can also marry women among the People of the Book. Now Allah SWT cannot be referring to Christians and Jews who commit shirk, because this verse is referring to GOOD THINGS being lawful for them. And being a Mushrik is the WORST thing a person can be.

Also, notice how this verse never says Mushriks or disbelievers at all. It says “…chaste women from among those who were given the Book before you.” Nothing about this verse should make anyone believe that Allah SWT is telling believing men that they can marry Mushrik women, even if they are Christians, because He explicitly says you cannot marry Mushrik women and you cannot remain married to disbelieving women.

Christians who worship Jesus are not excused from that simply because they call themselves Christian. If they fall into the category of a Mushrik or disbeliever, you cannot marry them. Simple.

Now there are people who try to say that Christians are not Mushriks or disbelievers to justify marrying them. Let’s see what Allah SWT says about this matter.

Allah makes it very clear that among the People of the Book there are those who disbelieve. The emphasis is on “AMONG,” meaning not ALL are disbelievers, but among them are.

98:6

"Indeed, those who disbelieved among the PEOPLE OF THE BOOK and the polytheists will be in the Fire of Hell, abiding therein forever. Those are the worst of creatures."

We know that, according to the Quran, Christians and Jews are the People of the Book. They are simply different communities and among them people believe different things. And Allah makes it VERY clear what beliefs fall into the category of DISBELIEF and SHIRK.

Most Christians today, as we all well know, believe that Allah (God) is Jesus, which is why Allah said:

5:72

"They have certainly DISBELIEVED who say, ‘Allah is the Messiah, the son of Mary,’ while the Messiah has said, ‘O Children of Israel, worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Indeed, he who associates others with Allah…Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and his refuge is the Fire. And there are not for the wrongdoers any helpers."

So Allah tells us what they say about Jesus, then He tells us what Jesus actually said to the people, showing us that what they say is different from what Jesus told them.

Then Allah continues by saying:

"Indeed, he who associates others with Allah…"

He follows up with that line because that is exactly what they are doing: associating partners with Allah, which makes them Mushriks.

Who are those who say that Jesus is God (Allah)?

The Christians.

So any Christian who believes that Jesus is Allah is a disbeliever and an Associator (Mushrik).

What about the Christians who believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Or anyone who says that Allah has taken a son or children?

"They have said, ‘Allah has taken a son.’ Exalted is He; He is the [One] Free of need. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. You have no authority for this claim. Do you say about Allah that which you do not know?"

"Say, ‘Indeed, those who invent falsehood about Allah will not succeed.’"

"For them is brief enjoyment in this world; then to Us is their return; then We will make them taste the severe punishment because they used to disbelieve."

The verse says, “For them…” Who is “them”? The people who say that Allah has a son. Allah says He will make them taste a severe punishment because they used to DISBELIEVE.

Do the Christians not say that Jesus is the Son of God? Do the Jews not say that Ezra is the son of God? (i.e. 9:30)

Yes, they do. Therefore, according to the context of Surah 10:68–70, they are also DISBELIEVERS.

You have to read everything in context if you want to understand what Allah is truly saying.

So if Allah was not talking about these people who worship Jesus and say that Allah has a son, then who was He referring to in 5:5?

As I said earlier, not all among the People of the Book are disbelievers. There are some who believe in Allah and the Last Day, according to 2:62:

"Indeed, those who believe and those who are Jews or Christians or Sabeans - those [among them] who believed in Allah and the Last Day and did righteousness - will have their reward with their Lord, and no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve."

And this is important because, for some strange reason, we treat all of them as though they are equal, while Allah specifically tells us that they are not. There is a huge difference between those who believe among the People of the Book and those who do not.

First, He tells us explicitly that THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. Then He begins to tell us about those among them who are righteous.

"They are not the same. Among the People of the Book is a community standing [in obedience], reciting the verses of Allah during periods of the night and prostrating [in prayer]. They believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and hasten to good deeds. And those are among the righteous. And whatever good they do…never will it be removed from them. And Allah is Knowing of the righteous."

Then He tells us about those among them who disbelieve:

"Indeed, those who disbelieve—never will their wealth or their children avail them against Allah at all. And it is they who will be companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally."

So if, according to these verses, you cannot marry anyone who disbelieves or is a Mushrik, then what women would be left among the People of the Book to marry?

THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN ALLAH AND THE LAST DAY.

That is who Allah is referring to in Surah 5:5: the women among the People of the Book who believed.

This is self-explanatory when you simply pay attention to the verses and the Quran as a whole. Allah wants the best for us, and marrying anyone who disbelieves or associates partners with Allah is not what is best for us, even if they are among the People of the Book.