Question Summary:
Can I marry such a lady?

Question Detail:

Salam. I (31 years old) am muslim from Asian muslim country. I like one Chinese girl (27 years old) and she also like me. We met each other in some non-muslim Asian country for studies. I am not good practicing muslim but I am muslim Alhamdulillah, I consider Prophet Muhammad PBUH as a role model and Islam as best system of life for myself and for whole world. My friend and her family has no religion and she has not been taught about any religion before. She is traditional educated Chinese but very open minded.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.

As-salaamu `alaykum wa-ramatullahi wa-barakatuh.

In principle, it is not permissible to marry the Chinese woman until she truly accept Islaam and the fundamental beliefs of Islaam. The fundamental beliefs of Islaam are the following;

The religion of Islaam has a natural and logical approach.

Rasulullah salallahu alayhi wa sallam has said;

الفطرة[2] كل مولود يولد على

“Every new born is born on a natural disposition”

The woman in reference has been brought up in an un-islamic environment, with no proper knowledge of Allah and Islaam. If she was brought up in a pure environment, she would have understood and accepted Islaam.

You may consider identifying a suitable Muslim woman who is educated on Islaam and related issues to explain her about Islaam. She will not get a satisfactory understanding of Islaam through her own research on the internet.

We take note of your inclination to the woman and your desire to marry her. You should first be sensitive to safeguard your Imaan before being sympathetic to the woman. If she wants to marry you, make it clear that she has to truly accept the fundamental beliefs in Islaam. You could assure her that practicing on Islaam is easy and enjoyable and that you will give her all the necessary support to understand Islaam and to practice on Islaam. You should also explain to her that there is difference between Islaam and Muslims. The practice of some Muslims and Governments do not necessarily represent the correct practice of Islaam, she should not be afraid and reluctant to accept Islaam.

And Allah Ta`ala Knows Best.

Hussein Muhammad.

Student Darul Iftaa

Arusha, Tanzania

Checked and Approved by:

Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

[1]

شرح الطحاوية - ط الأوقاف السعودية (ص: 276)

قوْلُهُ: (وَنُؤْمِنُ بِالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ، وَالْكُتُبِ الْمُنَزَّلَةِ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى الْحَقِّ الْمُبِينِ).

ش: هَذِهِ الْأُمُورُ مِنْ أَرْكَانِ الْإِيمَانِ، قَالَ تَعَالَى: {آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ} (2) - الْآيَاتِ، وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: {لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ} (3) - الْآيَةَ.

فَجَعَلَ اللَّهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى الْإِيمَانَ هُوَ الْإِيمَانَ بِهَذِهِ الْجُمْلَةِ، وَسَمَّى مَنْ آمَنَ بِهَذِهِ الْجُمْلَةِ مُؤْمِنِينَ، كَمَا جَعَلَ الْكَافِرِينَ مَنْ كَفَرَ بِهَذِهِ الْجُمْلَةِ، بِقَوْلِهِ: {وَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ فَقَدْ ضَلَّ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا} (4). وَقَالَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فِي الْحَدِيثِ المتفق على صحته، حديث جبرائيل وَسُؤَالِهِ لِلنَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الْإِيمَانِ، فَقَالَ: «أَنْ تُؤْمِنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ، وَتُؤْمِنَ بِالْقَدَرِ خَيْرِهِ وَشَرِّهِ». فَهَذِهِ الْأُصُولُ الَّتِي اتَّفَقَتْ عَلَيْهَا الْأَنْبِيَاءُ وَالرُّسُلُ صَلَوَاتُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَسَلَامُهُ، وَلَمْ يُؤْمِنْ بِهَا حَقِيقَةَ الْإِيمَانِ إِلَّا أَتْبَاعُ الرُّسُلِ

شرح الطحاوية ت الأرناؤوط (2/ 401)

قَوْلُهُ: (وَنُؤْمِنُ بِالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ، وَالْكُتُبِ الْمُنَزَّلَةِ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ، وَنَشْهَدُ أَنَّهُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى الْحَقِّ الْمُبِينِ) . ش: هَذِهِ الْأُمُورُ مِنْ أَرْكَانِ الْإِيمَانِ، قَالَ تَعَالَى: {آمَنَ الرَّسُولُ بِمَا أُنْزِلَ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ رَبِّهِ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ كُلٌّ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَمَلَائِكَتِهِ وَكُتُبِهِ وَرُسُلِهِ} [الْبَقَرَةِ: 285] الْآيَاتِ. وَقَالَ تَعَالَى: {لَيْسَ الْبِرَّ أَنْ تُوَلُّوا وُجُوهَكُمْ قِبَلَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَلَكِنَّ الْبِرَّ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالْكِتَابِ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ} [الْبَقَرَةِ: 177] الْآيَةَ.

[2]

مستخرج أبي عوانة ط الجامعة الإسلامية (20/ 272)