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Can I Marry a Hindu Woman?

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Answered by Ustadha Raidah Shah Idil

Question: I am in a relationship with a Hindu girl. I feel it is necessary to tell her about Islam, but she is not convinced. She wants to stay Hindu even after marriage. Is it right for me to marry her and continue to convince her about Islam?

Answer: Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I pray this finds you well. May Allah soften her heart to Islam, and grant you the strength to do what is best for both of you.

Marriage

“Do not marry unbelieving women until they believe […] And do not marry (your women) to unbelievers until they believe.” [Quran 2:221]

Your marriage contract with a Hindu woman will be invalid. It is impermissible for you to marry her.

Although it must be hard for you to hear this, love is not enough to make a marriage successful. Please complete this online course to help you understand the spirit and law behind marriage in Islam. Islamic Marriage: Guidance for Successful Marriage and Married Life

Hope in Allah

Remember the Prophetic promise that if you leave something for Allah’s sake, then He will replace it with something better.

No matter how stuck you feel right now, trust that Allah has the power to make a way out for you. You just need to do your part. Please listen to this podcast: Positive Spiritual Thinking: Choosing Mindfulness (taqwa) and Embracing Trust (tawakkul) by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Guidance

“Verily! You guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.” [Qur’an, 28:56]

Nobody can be convinced to become Muslim. Only those who are sincere will be guided by Allah. That being said, Allah is the Turner of hearts, and anything is possible with His help.

Solutions

Please perform the Prayer of Need and ask Allah to help guide the woman you wish to marry.

Please perform the Prayer of Guidance up til seven times about what to do. If Allah inspires her to embrace Islam, then that is a sign that marriage to her is good for you. If she remains opposed to Islam, then this is a clear sign that marriage to her is unwise.

Future children

It has been narrated on the authority of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet Muhammad (upon him be blessings and peace) said: “Beware! Every one of you is a shepherd and every one is answerable with regard to his flock. The Caliph is a shepherd over the people and shall be questioned about his subjects (as to how he conducted their affairs). A man is a guardian over the members of his family and shall be questioned about them (as to how he looked after their physical and moral well-being). A woman is a guardian over the household of her husband and his children, and shall be questioned about them (as to how she managed the household and brought up the children). A slave is a guardian over the property of his master and shall be questioned about it (as to how he safeguarded his trust). Beware! Every one of you is a guardian and every one of you shall be questioned with regard to his trust.” [Sahih Muslim]

Mothers are often the primary caregivers of children. What religion do you want your children to be raised on?

I pray that Allah grants you the strength to do what pleases Him, and what will ultimately benefit you in both worlds.

Please refer to the following links:

Can a Muslim Man Marry a Sikh or a Hindu?
Marriage in Islam: A Reader
Rights of Children in Detail

Wassalam,
Raidah

Checked & Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Photo: Danumurthi Mahendra

Is a Marriage to a Non-Muslim Woman Valid? (Shafi’i)

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Answered by Shaykh Shuaib Ally

Question: Assalam alaykum,

If a Muslim man is in a relationship with a non-Muslim woman and she falls pregnant and then they get married, but she is not a person of the book, is the marriage valid islamically? If a child is conceived out of wedlock but the parents marry by the time he/she is born is the child classed as illegitimate or legitimate?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

It is not legally permissible for a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman who does not fall within the category of ‘people of the book’.
If a Muslim man were to nevertheless do so, that marriage contract would be invalid; that is, it would not be legally recognized.

When is a Child Considered Illegitimate?

Legitimacy or illegitimacy has to do primarily with attribution of the child to the father, and includes derivative rules related to inheritance, guardianship and marriage.

If a child is born to a validly married couple in a period in which the child could have been conceived in this valid marriage, it would be attributed to the father.

The lower limit for the duration of a pregnancy for legal purposes is six months. Therefore, if a man were to marry a woman and she were then to give birth three months later, the child would not be attributed to the father. If she were to give birth shortly after six months, the child would be.

Please see also: Can a Muslim Man Marry a Sikh or a Hindu?

Shuaib Ally

Can a Muslim Man Marry a Sikh or a Hindu?

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Answered by Ustadha Sulma Badrudduja

Question: Can a Muslim man marry a sikh or hindu girl?…If not, what are the reasons and consequences of it…..if that couple really wants to marry each other then what should they do?

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

I hope this message reaches you in the best of iman and health.

Allah Most High says, “Do not marry unbelieving women until they believe […] And do not marry (your women) to unbelievers until they believe.” [Quran 2:221]

It is clear that Allah has not made it permissible for Muslims to marry non-Muslims, though there is an exception for Muslim men to marry women from the People of the Book (i.e. Jews and Christians).  Hanafi scholars have pointed out that even this exception is in many cases disliked or even sinful if one cannot be sure that it will not influence one’s religious devotion or beliefs, or that of one’s children.

Among the many wisdoms of this ruling is the preservation of the religion of Islam and prevention of harm to one’s religious foundation. This ruling is an insight into the importance of the sacred trust one undertakes by marrying, having children, and raising them to be obedient God-conscious servants.

In terms of consequence, one’s marriage would not be valid if they married one other than whom Allah has permitted for them, and therefore the man and woman would be considered to be living outside of wedlock.

Muslims should guard their personal interactions according to the teachings of Islam. If a Muslim gets himself or herself in a situation where they desperately want to marry one with whom marriage is not permissible, they should immediately pull away and  speak to a scholar.

The scholar should be able to evaluate the situation and determine which of the two options is more suitable: (1) proposing the idea to the non-Muslim to study Islam and adopt the faith so that there can be a valid marriage or (2) asking the couple to leave the relationship altogether.

It will no doubt take one time to heal if strong feelings had developed, but no one leaves something for the sake of Allah except that He rewards them and replaces their loss with something better for them. Allah Most High says, “And those who strive for Us – We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.” [Quran 29:69]

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam,
Sulma