8.9. CONDITIONS OF MARRYING THE FEMALE KITABIS
It is worthy mentioning that marrying the female Kitabis (the female Christians and Jews) has specific rulings. The majority of the Muslim scholars authorize such a marriage and their proof here is the verse where Almighty Allah says, (Lawful to you in marriage) are not only the women who are believers, but chaste women among the People of the Book revealed before your time when you give them their dowries, and desire chastity, not lewdness, taking as lovers. (Al-Ma’idah: 5)
However, this authorization is restricted by a number of conditions that must not be overlooked. The conditions are as follows:
The First Condition
Making sure that the woman is an authentic real Kitabi. She must be of a religion that is originally from Allah; in other words, she must be Jewish or Christian. This means that she believes in Allah and in His Messengers and in the Hereafter. She must not be atheist or apostate.
The Second Condition
The woman must be chaste, virtuous, and of an unblemished reputation because Allah, the Almighty, says, … Chaste women among the people of the Book… (Al-Ma’ idah: 5) Ibn Kathir interpreted this verse saying that Allah here means that the female Kitabi whom the Muslim is allowed to marry must be chaste and must not have committed adultery. She must be virtuous, righteous, and free from any suspicious behavior.
The Third Condition
The woman must not belong to people who adopt hostility and enmity against the Muslims. That is why the Muslim scholars differed concerning marrying adh-Dhimmiyyah (a free non-Muslim woman who lives in a Muslim country) and Harbiyyah woman (a free non-Muslim woman whose people are engaging war against Muslims). They authorized marrying the former but prohibited marrying the latter. This is the opinion of Ibn Abbas, %Ali ibn Abu Talib, and Abu Bakr ibn a12 Arabi. To support his opinion, Ibn al-s Arabi quoted the verse that reads, You will not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day, loving those who oppose Allah and His Messenger… (Al-Mujadalah. 22).
The Fourth Condition
Marrying a female Kitabi must not give way to temptation nor cause harmfulness whether definitely or speculatively. As similar to all allowable things, marrying female Kitabi is permitted so long as it bears no harm. In this regard the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “No harm shall be inflicted or reciprocated (in Islam).
This marriage would lessen marriage opportunity of Muslim girls and put temptation in their ways. Thus, in our age, marrying non-Muslim women must be interdicted unless it is for an obliging necessity or for a dire need. So we must follow the rule that says that fending off corruption is prior to achieving one’s welfare.
(SOURCE: Wives of Prophet Muhammad, Their Strives and Their Lives by Muhammad Fathi Mus’ ad)
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