Answer: The Holy Qur’ān
reads:
This day are [all] good
things made lawful for you. The food of those who have received the
Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And so are
the virtuous women of the believers and the virtuous women of those who
received the Scripture before you [lawful for you] when you give them their
marriage portions and live with them in honor, not in fornication, nor
taking them as secret concubines. Whosoever denies the faith, his work is in
vain and he will be among the losers in the Hereafter. (5:5)
The expression of ‘this
day’ is very meaningful in this verse and this is why I have quoted the
complete verse. It shows that, after revelation of this verse, Muslims were
allowed to marry the Christian or the Jewish ladies. As far as the matter of
Muslim ladies marrying the Christians or the Jews is concerned, the Holy
Qur’ān remains silent, which shows that Muslims ladies were not allowed to
solemnize such marriages even on ‘that day’.
Our experience also guides
us in this regard. A lady, be a westerner or an easterner, lives under the
protection of her husband, which definitely gives him an edge over her. He
may affect her religious practices and beliefs also over time. It is
therefore maintained that Muslim ladies should not marry men from among the
People of Book. Muslim men should also exercise prudence as regards what
impact their marriage will have on their faith and practices. In a country
dominated by Christianity, they should refrain from marrying any Christian
lady or when it is clear that their children will be given a Christian
upbringing instead of Islamic. |