Can you only marry Christian women who do not commit shirk?

No, it is not true that you can only marry Christian women if they do not commit shirk. Rather, it is permitted to marry Christian women despite their Shirk. This is the sound opinion in the Hanafi Madhab.

لَقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِينَ قَالُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْمَسِيحُ ابْنُ مَرْيَم

Indeed, those who say that Allah is the Messiah son of Mary have disbelieved. (Surah al-Maidah, 17).

The Holy Quran permitted Muslim men to marry women from the people of the book (Ahl al-Kitab) in Surah al-Maidah verse 5. The people of the book are primarily the Jews and the Christians. Permission to marry them was given despite the Quran mentioning their Shirk.

فَإِنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ فِي الْحَقِيقَةِ مُشْرِكُونَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا يَدَّعُونَ التَّوْحِيدَ، قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {وَقَالَتْ الْيَهُودُ عُزَيْرٌ ابْنُ اللَّهِ} [التوبة: 30] إلَى قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ {سُبْحَانَهُ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ} [التوبة: 31] وَعَطْفُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لَا يَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّهُمْ غَيْرُ مُشْرِكِينَ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى {وَالصَّابِئِينَ وَالنَّصَارَى وَالْمَجُوسَ وَاَلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا} [الحج: 17] فَقَدْ عَطَفَ أَهْلَ الشِّرْكِ عَلَى الْمَجُوسِ وَالْمَجُوسُ مُشْرِكُونَ تَتَنَاوَلُهُمْ الْجِهَةُ الثَّابِتَةُ فِي قَوْلِهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ {وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ} [البقرة: 221] فَعَرَفْنَا أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ خُصُّوا مِنْ هَذِهِ الْحُرْمَةِ بِالنَّصِّ. (المبسوط).

For indeed the people of the book are, in reality, idolaters. Despite them claiming monotheism (Tawheed). Allah (Most High) said: The Jews say Uzayr is the son of Allah. (Surah al-Towbah, 30). Up until His words (Most High): Transcendent is He above what they associate. (Surah al-Towbah, 31). The conjunction of idolaters (Mushrikeen) to Ahl al-Kitaab does not dictate that they are not idolaters. Allah (Most High) said: The Sabeans, the Christians, the Magians and those who have committed Shirk (Idolaters). (Surah al-Hajj, 17). Indeed the conjunction of the people of Shirk (idolaters) to the Magians occurred.  The Magians are idolaters (Mushrikeen). They are certainly included in his (Mighty and Majestic) words: Do not marry idolatrous women (Mushrikaat). (Surah al-Baqarah, 221). Therefore, we know that the Ahl al-Kitaab are excluded from this prohibition. (Imam Shams al-Aimah al-Sarakhsi, al-Mabsoot).

وَأَمَّا الْآيَةُ فَهِيَ فِي غَيْرِ الْكِتَابِيَّاتِ مِنْ الْمُشْرِكَاتِ؛ لِأَنَّ أَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ، وَإِنْ كَانُوا مُشْرِكِينَ عَلَى الْحَقِيقَةِ لَكِنْ هَذَا الِاسْمُ فِي مُتَعَارَفِ النَّاسِ يُطْلَقُ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ قَالَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى: {مَا يَوَدُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَلا الْمُشْرِكِينَ} [البقرة: 105]. (بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع).

As for the verse, it is speaking about idolatrous women who are not from Ahl al-Kitaab. Although the Ahl al-Kitab women are idolatrous, in reality, this noun does not include them on general usage. Rather it is used for idolaters from other than the people of the book. Allah (Most High) said: Those who disbelieve from the people of the book and the idolators dislike it. Surah al-Baqarah, 105). (Abu Bakr bin Masood al-Kaasaani, Badai al-Sanaa’i).

وَلَكِنْ بِالنَّظَرِ إلَى الدَّلَائِلِ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَجُوزَ الْأَكْلُ وَالتَّزَوُّجُ اهـ وَهُوَ مُوَافِقٌ لِمَا فِي رَضَاعِ مَبْسُوطِ شَمْسِ الْأَئِمَّةِ فِي الذَّبِيحَةِ قَالَ: ذَبِيحَةُ النَّصْرَانِيِّ حَلَالٌ مُطْلَقًا سَوَاءً قَالَ بِثَالِثِ ثَلَاثَةٍ أَوْ لَا وَمُوَافِقٌ لِإِطْلَاقِ الْكِتَابِ هُنَا. وَالدَّلِيلُ وَهُوَ قَوْله تَعَالَى {وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ} [المائدة: 5]. (فتح القدير).

However, when you look at the evidence then eating and marrying should be considered permitted. This is in agreement with what is found in the Mabsoot of Shams al-Aimah, regarding the slaughter he said: The slaughter of a Christian is generally Halal. This is irrespective of whether he asserts the third of three (trinity) or not. This is aligned with the general statement in the Book regarding this issue and the evidence. The evidence is His (Most High) statement: And the chaste women of those who were given the book before you. (Surah al-Maidah, 5). (Imam Ibn al-Humaam, Fath al-Qadeer).

وَحَاصِلُهُ أَنَّ الْمَذْهَبَ الْإِطْلَاقُ لِمَا ذَكَرَهُ شَمْسُ الْأَئِمَّةِ فِي الْمَبْسُوطِ مِنْ أَنَّ ذَبِيحَةَ النَّصْرَانِيِّ حَلَالٌ مُطْلَقًا سَوَاءٌ قَالَ بِثَالِثِ ثَلَاثَةٍ أَوْ لَا لِإِطْلَاقِ الْكِتَابِ هُنَا، وَالدَّلِيلُ وَرَجَّحَهُ فِي فَتْحِ الْقَدِيرِ. (البحر الرائق شرح كنز الدقائق).

In conclusion, the (opinion of) the Madhab is that of inclusiveness. This is due to what Shams al-Aimah said in al-Mabsoot: The slaughter of a Christian is generally Halal. This is irrespective of whether he asserts the third of three (trinity) or not. This is aligned with the general statement in the Book regarding this issue and the evidence. In Fath al-Qadeer he considered it the sound opinion. (Imam Zayn al-Deen ibn Nujaym, al-Bahr al-Raiq Sharh Kanz al-Daqaiq).

As we see  in the Nusoos (texts) above, classical Hanafi authorities clearly recognised that the Christians were committing Shirk (polytheism). However, despite this Muslims may marry them. This should come as no surprise because their Shirk is repeatedly mentioned in the Holy Quran, and yet the Quran permits marriage to them. The Hanafi opinion is fully aligned with the evidence from the Holy Quran.

يَاأَهْلَ الْكِتَابِ لَا تَغْلُوا فِي دِينِكُمْ وَلَا تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْحَقَّ إِنَّمَا الْمَسِيحُ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِنْهُ فَآمِنُوا بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَلَا تَقُولُوا ثَلَاثَةٌ

O people of the book do not go to extremes in your religion. And do not say regarding Allah except that which is true. Indeed, the Messiah Jesus son of Mary was the Messenger of Allah. He was cast into Mary. He is a spirit from Him. So, believe in Allah and his Messengers. And do not say three (the trinity). (Surah al-Nisa, 171).

Some people make the argument that Ahl al-Kitab refers to Christians who do not commit Shirk. Therefore, one is permitted to marry only those Christians who do not commit Shirk. Thus, only Christians who reject the trinity and other aspects of Shirk are permissible for marriage.

This is not the Hanafi position, as demonstrated above. This also contradicts numerous verses of the Holy Quran, most clearly the verse above (Surah al-Nisa, 171). In which they are referred to Ahl al-Kitab and commanded to desist from Shirk. Therefore, the Quran highlighted the fact that Ahl al-Kitab commit Shirk and despite this permitted marriage to them.

It is due to the clear Quranic evidence that the Hanafi scholars permitted marrying Christian or Jewish women, even if they commit Shirk. Some people who oppose this view say that the Holy Quran prohibited marriage to people of Shirk (polytheists). So, Christians that commit Shirk are excluded from the general permission to marry Ahl al-Kitab. They argue that one can marry Christians that are Kafir (disbelievers) but not Mushrik (polytheist).

This argument falls short too. Once again the Holy Quran itself is evidence against this argument. This is because the Holy Quran prohibited marrying Kafir women too. So how can one say polytheist or idolatrous women are prohibited but Kafir (disbelieving) women are permitted. Rather both are prohibited.

وَلا تُمْسِكُوا بِعِصَمِ الْكَوَافِرِ

And do not hold on to marriage contracts with disbelieving women. (Surah al-Mumtahinah, 10).

The correct understanding is that the prohibition is upon all Mushrik (polytheist) and Kafir (disbelieving) women, and then and exception is made for Ahl al-Kitab. This has been clearly elucidated in numerous authoritative Hanafi works.

{وَلا تَنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ} [البقرة: 221] نُسِخَتْ فِي حَقِّ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ الْمُثَلِّثِينَ وَغَيْرِهِمْ بِآيَةِ الْمَائِدَةِ وَبَقِيَ مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ تَحْتَ الْمَنْعِ، ذَكَرَهُ جَمَاعَةٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ التَّفْسِيرِ لِأَنَّ سُورَةَ الْمَائِدَةِ كُلَّهَا لَمْ يُنْسَخْ مِنْهَا شَيْءٌ قَطُّ. (فتح القدير).

And do not marry idolatrous women. (Surah al-Baqarah, 221). This was abrogated with regards to the people of the book who believed in the trinity and others, by the verse in (Surah) al-Maidah. Everyone other than them remain prohibited. This was mentioned by a group of Tafseer scholars, since nothing from Surah al-Maidah has been abrogated. (Imam Ibn al Humaam, Fath al-Qadeer).

{وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّ}. فكان حكم هذه الآية أن كل مشركة حرام على أي ملل الشرك كانت من أهل الكتاب أو من غيرهم. ثم إن الله تعالى أحل نساء أهل الكتاب فقال تبارك وتعالى: {أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ}. فأحل نساء أهل الكتاب من جملة أهل الكفر. (كتاب الأَصْلُ)

And do not marry idolatrous women until they believe. The ruling of this Ayah (Quranic verse) is that every idolatrous woman (Mushrikah) is Haram. Irrespective of which religion she follows, whether she is from Ahl al-Kitaab or other than them. Then Allah (Most High) permitted (marriage to) the women of the book. He (Most High) said, Pure foods have been made lawful for you. The food of the People of the Book is permissible for you and yours is permissible for them. And permissible for you (in marriage) are chaste believing women and chaste women from those given the Scripture before you, as long as you pay them their dowries. (Surah al-Maidah, 5). He (Most High) permitted the women of Ahl al-Kitaab from all of the people of Kufr. (Imam Muhammad bin Hasan al-Shaybani, Kitab al-Asl, al-Mabsoot).

Some Hanafi scholars have asserted that despite Christian women engaging in Shirk (polytheism), they are not included in the Quranic address regarding polytheist women. This is because Mushrik refers to those who worshipped statues. This is yet another demonstration of the fact that classical Hanafi scholars recognised that Christians engage in Shirk. Yet it is still permitted to marry them.

{ولا تنكحوا المشركات حتى يؤمن}: لا يتناول إطلاقه الكتابيات؛ لأن المشرك اسم واقع في الشرع على عبدة الأوثان، ولا يتناول أهل الكتاب، قال الله تعالى: {ما يود الذين كفروا من أهل الكتاب ولا المشركين أن ينزل عليكم من خير من ربكم}. (شرح مختصر الطحاوي).

And do not marry idolatrous women until they believe. (Surah al-Baqarah, 221). The general usage does not denote women of the book. This is because in Shariah, Shirk is a noun that refers to those who worship idols. It does not incorporate the people of the book (Ahl al-Kitaab). Allah (Most High) said: Those who disbelieve from the people of the book and the idolators dislike it if good comes to you from your Lord. (Surah al-Baqarah, 105). (Abu Bakr al-Raazi al-Jassaas, Sharh Mukhtasar al-Tahaawi).

 

وقال: {لم يكن الذين كفروا من أهل الكتاب والمشركين منفكين}، ففرق بين الفريقين في اللفظ، فدل على أن كل واحد من اللفظين يختص عند الإطلاق بضرب دون غيره، وإن كان الجميع مشركين في الحقيقة وكفارا، كما اختص المنافقون باسم النفاق وإن كانوا مشركين، ولا يتناولهم مع ذلك إطلاق لفظ المشركين. (شرح مختصر الطحاوي).

He (Most High) said, Those who disbelieve from the people of the book and the idolators will not desist. (Surah al-Bayinah, 1). He (Most High) differentiated between them linguistically. This demonstrates that each word is used for a group, excluding the other. Despite the fact that they are all idolators (Mushrikeen), in reality, and disbelievers (Kufaar). Just as a particular noun has been used for the hypocrites (Munafiqeen), although they are idolators (Mushrikeen). Despite this they are not included in the word idolators (Mushrikeen). (Abu Bakr al-Raazi al-Jassaas, Sharh Mukhtasar al-Tahaawi).

It is important to note that the Hanafi Madhab does not encourage marriage to Jewish or Christian women. It merely asserts the validity of such a marriage. As opposed to marriage to an atheist or a follow of any other religion, in which case the marriage will be invalid. The position of the Hanafi Madhab is that marriage to a woman of the book is valid but Makruh.

(وَصَحَّ نِكَاحُ كِتَابِيَّةٍ)، وَإِنْ كُرِهَ تَنْزِيهًا (مُؤْمِنَةٍ بِنَبِيٍّ) مُرْسَلٍ (مُقِرَّةٍ بِكِتَابٍ) مُنَزَّلٍ، وَإِنْ اعْتَقَدُوا الْمَسِيحَ إلَهًا، وَكَذَا حِلُّ ذَبِيحَتِهِمْ عَلَى الْمَذْهَبِ.

(قَوْلُهُ: عَلَى الْمَذْهَبِ) أَيْ خِلَافًا لِمَا فِي الْمُسْتَصْفَى مِنْ تَقْيِيدِ الْحِلِّ بِأَنْ لَا يَعْتَقِدُوا ذَلِكَ وَيُوَافِقُهُ مَا فِي مَبْسُوطِ شَيْخِ الْإِسْلَامِ يَجِبُ أَنْ لَا يَأْكُلُوا ذَبَائِحَ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ إذَا اعْتَقَدُوا أَنَّ الْمَسِيحَ إلَهٌ، وَأَنَّ عُزَيْرًا إلَهٌ، وَلَا يَتَزَوَّجُوا نِسَاءَهُمْ قِيلَ وَعَلَيْهِ الْفَتْوَى، وَلَكِنْ بِالنَّظَرِ إلَى الدَّلِيلِ يَنْبَغِي أَنَّهُ يَجُوزُ الْأَكْلُ وَالتَّزَوُّجُ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار).

Imam al-Haskafi: And it is valid to marry a woman of the book. Although it is Makruh Tanzeehan. As long as she believes in a Prophet that was sent, and a book that was revealed. Even if they believe in al-Masih (Jesus peace be upon him) being a god. Likewise their slaughtered meat is Halal according to the Madhab.

Imam Ibn Abideen: His saying: This is according to the Madhab. Meaning, it is against that which is found in al-Mustasfaa. Where he restricted permissibility to those who do not believe that. This is in agreement with that which is in al-Mabsoot of Shaykh al-Islam: It is necessary to refrain from consuming the slaughter of the people of the book if they believe that al-Maseeh is god, or Uzayr is god. And their women must not be married either. It has been said that the Fatwa is upon this. However, looking at the evidence dictates that it is permitted to eat and marry (even if they hold such beliefs). (Radd al-Muhtar).

Although it is valid for a Muslim man to marry a Jewish or Christian woman, it is not recommended. Rather, one should give preference to Muslim women. That is the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ. It is also better for one’s own religion and that of one’s children.

And Allah Most High Knows Best.

– Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (06.04.2023)