Islam and interfaith marriage: can a Muslim marry a Christian

Sheikh Waiswa explained that Islam permits a Muslim man to marry a Christian or Jewish woman, provided he respects her faith and does not compel her to convert to Islam. He added that a Muslim husband must allow his non-Muslim wife the freedom to practise her religion, including helping her observe her religious holidays. For instance, the Sheikh mentioned that on Easter, a Muslim husband should assist his Christian wife in preparing for the day, buying her clothes and taking her to church for prayers.

The Quran explicitly addresses the issue of marriage between Muslim men and women of the “People of the Book” (Christians and Jews). In Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:5), Allah says:

“This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, 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, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers.”

This verse has generally been interpreted as permitting Muslim men to marry Christian and Jewish women, provided they are chaste and the marriage is conducted in line with Islamic principles. This allowance, however, applies specifically to Muslim men; Muslim women are traditionally forbidden from marrying non-Muslim men, based on the view that the children of the marriage would inherit their father’s religion, which could pose a challenge to raising them as Muslims.

While Sheikh Waiswa’s interpretation aligns with certain scholarly views, it is important to note that his statement has not been universally accepted. Some Muslims argue that marrying outside the faith can lead to complications in maintaining an Islamic household, particularly when it comes to raising children and religious practices. The opponents of interfaith marriage often cite Surah Al-Baqarah (2:221), which states:

“Do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you.”

Some interpret this verse as prohibiting marriage to non-Muslims altogether, while others argue that it specifically refers to polytheists (those who worship multiple gods) and not Christians or Jews, who are considered monotheists in Islam.

According to Sheikh Waiswa, and backed by Islamic scholars who permit interfaith marriages, several conditions must be met:

Islam does allow Muslim men to marry Christian and Jewish women, with clear guidelines laid out in the Quran. However, this topic remains a matter of debate within the Muslim community, with differing interpretations of Quranic verses and Hadiths. Sheikh Waiswa’s recent remarks, though consistent with some Islamic teachings, have reignited this debate, particularly concerning the challenges that interfaith marriages might present.

Ultimately, while Islam permits such unions, it does so under specific conditions aimed at ensuring respect for both faiths and maintaining harmony within the household.

This content is created with the help of an AI model and verified by the writer