Is it permissible for a Muslim man to marry a Muslim woman in Darul-Harb?

The Details of the Question

- Is it permissible for a Muslim man to marry a Muslim woman in Darul-Harb, that is, in the West?
- I heard that Ibn Abbas (ra) said that this should only be done in an Islamic state. Yasir Qadi, one of America’s leading Islamic figures, quoted him to justify his view that Muslim men should not marry non-Muslim (Christian or Jewish) women in non-Muslim countries. What is your view regarding the issue?
- In addition, do children have to be raised as Muslims or can they be raised in both traditions and then decide later?

The Answer

Dear Brother / Sister,

The phrase “in Darul-Harb, that is, in the West” is not correct; being a Western state is one thing, but being a Western state at war with an Islamic state is another.

Ibn Abbas stipulates that non-Muslim women must be from among Ahl al-Bayt who are subject to the Islamic state and pay taxes (jizya) to be permissible for Muslims to marry them.

Ibn Abbas does not consider a member of Darul-Harb to be permissible to marry, and he does not consider it permissible to marry the women of those who do not pay jizya (those who are not subject to the Islamic state).

The overwhelming majority of the Islamic mujtahids regard it permissible for Muslim men to marry Ahl al-Bayt women wherever they are, but not permissible to marry unbelievers, polytheists and irreligious women.

Since protecting the religion is one of the fundamental rules and objectives of Islam, a Muslim man who wants to marry a non-Muslim woman is obliged not to endanger the religious and spiritual life of himself and his children; if there is such a possibility and danger, it is not permissible for him to marry her.

It is unanimously accepted that it is forbidden for a Muslim woman to marry an unbelieving man, whether he is a man of the Book or not.

If the mother is a non-Muslim, the child must be religiously subject to the father and be raised as a Muslim.

Questions on Islam

Was this answer helpful?
Author:
Questions on Islam
Subject Categories:
Read 65 times
In order to make a comment, please login or register