Marrying a Christian
Q: I've been working in corporate company for a few years, and have met a girl there. We both really like each other. She however, isn't Muslim. She's a Christian. She really has a great relationship with God. But, she doesn't have intention of converting - even though she's considered it a number of times.
Her ideal way of raising our children up would be to teach them both religions, and focus on their similarities. I will also always put Islam first, but, if this is allowed, I really don't want to let go of this girl. We really get along well, she's intellectual, she's a few years younger than I am, and we both love talking about religion and life in general. Similar interests. Please advise me as to what to do.
A: On account of the serious complications that come about through marrying Christian or Jewish women (e.g. the fear of a person being influenced towards kufr and his offspring being exposed to kufr and anti Islamic values and in the case of divorce the custody of the children going to the mother), our Ulama' have strongly discouraged marrying Christian or Jewish women. The great Jurist, Allaamah Shaami (rahimahullah), has mentioned that marring Christian or Jewish women in a non-Muslim country is not permissible (mahrooh-e-tahrimi).
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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