dealing with muslim women marrying non-muslims

[janab-e-ali]

@Mamaof3

Janaab,

As I understand from my reading, yes a Muslim man cannot marry an unbeleiver. However, Children of the book (Christian, Jew, Muslim) are considered to be beleivers.

A few points:

1. The term is people of the book (ahl-ul-kitab), not “children of the book”
2. The term “people of the book” refers to non-Muslims who belong to monotheistic faiths and whose sacred texts are recognized by Muslims. The term generally only refers to Jews, Christians, Sabians, Zoroastrians, and never refers to Muslims.
3. People of the book are not considered to be “believers” - that term generally only refers to Muslims.
4. The Quran specifically makes an exception and says that Muslim men can marry women from the people of the book. But that is not the issue being discussed here.
5. There is no such exception for Muslim women, who are categorically forbidden from marrying outside the religion.