Is It Permissible To Marry Someone From The People Of The Book?

Is it permissible to marry someone from the People of the Book?

Limits and conditions of marriage contract which gives legitimacy to the family institution that has social functions such as protection of religious life, continuation of it by being developed, and handing it down to the next generations are stated and the persons to whom matrimony is haram and halal are explained in the Holy Qur’an and sunnah in detail.

In the Holy Qur’an, there are some limits in terms of marriage of Muslims with non-Muslims and it is emphasized that a Muslim man and woman may not marry to polytheists. The 221st verse of Surah al-Baqarah, which means, “And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you,” sheds light on this subject.

On the subject of marrying to the people of book (Christians and Jews) who are not included in these people, men and women are evaluated separately. That is to say, with the following verse, a Muslim man is allowed to marry to a woman who is among the people of the book: “And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers” (Ma‘idah, 5/5).

Although this is the case for men, choosing Muslim women to marry is more suitable in terms of peace in family and social harmony.

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWA