To Wed The Idolatresses

LESSON # 259 FROM HOLY QUR’AN

To Wed The Idolatresses

BAQARAH – 2 (The Cow)

Verse – 221a    of  286, Section – 27 (Part - 2)

Wed not idolatresses till they believe.

Wa  laa  tankihul-mushri-kaati  hattaa  yu’-minn.

Lesson

‘Al-mushri-kaati – (the idolatresses) this word has been derived from shirk which means ascribing plurality to Allah Almighty, that is to say the woman who includes any other person or thing in the virtues of G0d Almighty. This word has been used in its vast and common meanings. Every infidel woman is included in this order. It is not necessary that she should be only idolatress. To wed any non-Muslim woman is unlawful according to the theologies of spiritual guides (Imam) Maalik and Shaaf-‘aii, but it is unlawful to wed each non-Muslim woman near to the scholars of Hanfii theology in accord with common rule, but it is lawful to marry any woman from Jews or Christians (because they belong to the heavenly religions). Its permission exists formally in the Divine law of the religion.

God Almighty has forbidden the Muslims to marry the idolatresses in this verse. Further explanation of this order is as under:-

1.        To wed any disciple of a worshipper of fire (woman of the sect of Magi), Sikh and Hindu women is not right.

2.       It is lawful to marry any woman from Jews or Christians (because they belong to the heavenly religions) but not better. Hadrat Umar (may Allah be pleased upon him) has disliked it. Instigation and stress exists also in the Sayings of the Messenger of God Almighty (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him) to marry any religious woman only.

3.      The woman who seems as she belongs to the heavenly religion from her style, but if it is known through investigation afterwards that her Faith is not of the people who belong to the heavenly religions, then it is not just to wed her too.

In short it is not lawful to marry any that woman who is not Believer. Islam has not banned in the chain of marriage with any race, colour or caste etc, but restricted for the Believer and correct Faith only. The basic reason of it is that the relationship of husband and wife is perfect love and friendship. Deep relation is necessary between both of them. It is compulsory for the accomplishment of husband and wife successfully for life that the wife should not be denier of the universal laws of her husband namely Oneness of God and Belief in the last Messenger (grace, glory, blessings and peace be upon Him). If this relation doesn’t exist between them then it is quite impossible to pass their lives successfully in each aspect, and the bigger badness than it affects the education, religion and future of their children. Their father pulls them toward himself and the mother toward herself. The result is clear.

The husband will decide the matters of his domestic life in the light of this faith. The wife will think according to her own faith. The quarrel and vigorous contradiction will remain always between them. It will affect badly their children and their future will ruin. So it is ordered that ‘Wed not idolatresses till they believe” to escape yourselves from the results of too much destruction. This restriction also exists in the Jews and the Christians religiously. However it is another thing if they don’t act upon it.  

Transliteration in Roman Script & English Translation of Holy Qur’an written by Marmaduke Pickthall, Published by Paak Company, 17-Urdu Bazar, Lahore and Paraphrase collected from Dars e Qur’an published By Idara Islah wa Tableegh, Lahore (translated by Muhammad Sharif)