Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

^Well said! It always made sense and that's exactly how I see it. I was just curious to see if there's actually a ruling on this subject. The subject of apostasy is like the big elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. So i was wondering if any scholars have actually talked about this and provided a way to convince the atheist spouse to come to the religion. Perhaps there's a fatwa on this?

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

Well seeing that you agree that an atheist cannot marry a Muslim, but whilst they are married one becomes an atheist then what follows I believe is enough convincing for the atheist to revert back or not to become atheist in the first place ... which is the annulment of the marriage itself ... If an atheist fears annulment of his/her marriage to his/her Muslim spouse then for sure he/she would go about pretending to be Muslim, there would be no fear of God by living a lie, however the more seasoned thinker would question his/her own motives for pretending to be someone when they are not and lie to a person who they care for ... However, marriage is a big deal and many people fake conversion to remain in that state with their Muslim spouse.

But when a person declares their apostasy (shamelessly) then it is assumed that person also wants to annul the marriage as well. Or their action would be very foolish for their Muslim spouse after learning the truth will immediately consider his/her marriage void. The basic underlying principle here is:

"The fear of annulment of marriage is enough of a deterrent for a person who is married to consider becoming an atheist openly whilst wanting to remain married to the Muslim partner"

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

but how can you believe or not believe in something based on fear? isnt belief based on conviction?

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

That's a different topic, but I don't recall saying that belief is based on fear ... can you show me what it is that I said that led you make that statement and I shall try to elaborate?

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

And if they both decide to continue with the marriage, will the Muslim spouse be considered adulterous in the eyes of the God or other muslims.

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

^ Not in front of Muslims because that condition would require the Muslim to disclose to others that he/she is living with an atheist ... Since this is unlikely the community would not know any better. As far as a hypothetical scenario ... since the marriage has become void and conjugal relations continue then yes that would be considered according to the Shari'ah as haram and zina ... whether this would be adulterous to Allah (SWT) ... I would have to concede that I do not speak for Allah (SWT) ... I guess ... if ever this case has ever been true, we'll have to wait an see what the verdict is on the Day of Judgement.

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

OK I was browsing the internet and this is what I understood.

The day he became atheist is the day marriage is over. She is no longer his wife, but she has to go through the period of Iddat before she can marry someone. If he comes back to islam within that period, no re-nikah is required. If he comes back to islam after, then nikah is required but hwoever she is not required to agree to that nikah.

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

^ Interesting.. Thanks!

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

All those who are of the view that marriage is invalidated if husband or wife becomes apostate, I would request them to provide any reference from Quran or the life of our prophet(pbuh). Just projecting your own inclinations and opinions as Islamic will not do.

Now my opinion in this case is different. I am of the view that marriage doesn't become invalidated by itself but husband/wife may choose to end this relationship based on this. My analysis may be wrong but I have based my opinion on the following:

1) Noah's(as) wife was a non-believer but he didn't divorce her. Did he?
2) Lot's (as) wife was a non-believer but he didn't divorce her. Did he?
(if you have anything in the above mentioned cases, pls bring them to the table)
3) Pharoah's wife Asiya(as) was a believr but she remained married to the head of non-believers, the pharoah.
4) holy Prophet's (pbuh) daughter Um-Kulthum (ra) was married to abu lahab's son. Abu lahab forced his son to divorce his wife. not the prophet (pbuh)
5) holy Prophet's (pbuh) daughter Ruqayyah (ra) was married to abu lahab's son. Abu lahab forced his son to divorce his wife. not the prophet (pbuh)
As per wikipedia, the daughters of the holy prophet (pbuh) remained in marriage with the sons of abu lahab till surah Al-Masadd was revealed. Allah knows best.
pls let me know if the facts I have presented are not right. thx.

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

Peace kchughtai

The references you have given are correct but they don't support your argument ...

We are saying that if one of a couple who are Muslim become murtad then the nikkah is invalid and there is no need for a formal divorce.

In the case of 1) The wife of Nuh (AS) was murtad and he did NOT divorce her ... He merely left her alone and they each went their own way. This supports our argument.

In the case of 2) Lut (AS) didn't divorce his wife, she was punished on the spot of her rejection and as a result their marriage was no more. This also supports our argument.

Now in the case of Abu Lahab's sons this is a true story but an invalid reference because ... we are looking at when 2 Muslims who are married by nikkah then when one becomes murtad what happens ... these examples that you have given is the upsidedown version of this ... which is 2 non-Muslims who are married by whatever marriage vows were in place and then when one of them became Muslim what happened ... The divorce proceedings took place in accordance with the law that the existing marriage had. There was a time when Muslims were not required to do everything that the current Shari'ah now has in place for us. When people are emerging Muslims it is no wonder that previous marriages were allowed to remain in tact.

The story of Asiyah (AS) is the same ... i.e. that there are two non-Muslims where one later becomes Muslim ... I will look in to this specific scenario but I hope you see these are not relevant to this topic.

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

Beginning of belief is not based on fear.

Maintaining belief is only partly on fear.

We had the discussion of traffic light before along the same line I think. ;)

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

Hey theorist,this is the link with the Islamic Sources on this Issue:

Praise be to Allaah.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) encouraged us to marry those who are religiously-committed, because basically women are weak and may change their beliefs and thoughts and even their religion for the slightest reason. So you should not have even considered marrying one whose religious commitment was not great, let alone marrying one who has no religious commitment at all, on the grounds that you would be able to guide him.
Marriage to an atheist is invalid and the marriage contract is basically null and void. It is not permissible for a woman who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to enter into such an invalid marriage on the grounds that this man may possibly be guided after marriage. She should have done what the great Sahaabi woman Umm Sulaym did when she refused to marry Abu Talhah – who was a kaafir at the time – unless he became Muslim, and he did so. This was the greatest mahr (dowry) in Islam as Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said. (al-Nasaa’i, 3341; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani).
The evidence that the marriage of a Muslim woman to a kaafir man is invalid is very clear. This is one of the matters on which there is unanimous agreement among all the scholars of the ummah. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! When believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them; Allaah knows best as to their Faith, then if you ascertain that they are true believers send them not back to the disbelievers. They are not lawful (wives) for the disbelievers nor are the disbelievers lawful (husbands) for them. But give them (disbelievers) that (amount of money) which they have spent (as their Mahr) to them. And there will be no sin on you to marry them if you have paid their Mahr to them. Likewise hold not the disbelieving women as wives…”
[al-Mumtahanah 60:10]
“And do not marry Al-Mushrikaat (idolatresses) till they believe (worship Allaah Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al‑Mushrikoon till they believe (in Allaah Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikoon) invite you to the Fire, but Allaah invites (you) to Paradise and forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember”
[al-Baqarah 2:221]
What your husband says and attributes to Islam is definitely false. Islam is not only for the time when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was sent, rather he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was sent to all of mankind until the Hour begins. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And We have not sent you (O Muhammad) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind, but most of men know not”
[Saba’ 34:28]
“Say (O Muhammad): “O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allaah — to Whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. Laa ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He). It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in Allaah and His Messenger (Muhammad), the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e. Muhammad), who believes in Allaah and His Words (this Qur’aan), the Tawraat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel) and also Allaah’s Word: “Be!” — and he was, i.e. ‘Eesa (Jesus) son of Maryam (Mary)], and follow him so that you may be guided”
[al-A’raaf 7:158]
It was narrated that Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have been given five things which were not given to any of the Prophets before me: I have been supported with fear to a distance of a month’s travelling; the earth has been made a place of prostration and a means of purification for me, so that wherever a man of my ummah is when the time for prayer comes, he may pray; war booty has been made permissible for me; the (previous) Prophets were sent only to their own people but I have been sent to all of mankind; and I have been given the power of intercession.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 438; Muslim, 432.
Your husband’s belief that “the important thing is our hearts should be clean. It doesn’t matter if we drink or gamble” is a false notion. If the heart is clean and pure then the effects of that should be seen in a person’s outward actions. Outward righteousness is a sign of inward righteousness, and outward corruption is a sign of inward corruption. How can his heart be clean if he drinks alcohol or gambles or commits immoral actions? This is impossible.
It was narrated that al-Nu’maan ibn Basheer said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “What is permitted is obvious and what is forbidden is obvious, and between them are doubtful matters about which not many people know. Thus he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself with regard to his religious commitment and his honour, but he who falls into doubtful matters falls into that which is forbidden, like a shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary and Allaah’s sanctuary is His prohibitions. And in the body there is a piece of flesh which, if it be whole, all the body is whole, and if it is diseased, all the body is diseased: it is the heart.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 52; Muslim, 1599.
Conclusion: This marriage of yours is invalid and it is not permissible to allow him to be intimate with you unless he comes back to Islam and enters the faith by pronouncing the Shahaadatayn and following the rulings of Islam. If he does not do that then the marriage must be annulled in a sharee’ah court. If you cannot do that or if there is no sharee’ah court where you live, then you should ask him for a divorce. If he refuses then you should divorce him by means of khula’, returning his mahr or more or less so that you can be separated.
And Allaah knows best.

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

[quote="Theorist"]

In a hypothetical situation, a muslim man marries an extremely religious muslim woman. At some point in life, the man loses his faith altogether. The devastated religious wife tries her best to bring him back to Islam but he wouldn't budge. Is this marriage valid anymore? If not then how does she get out of it. If yes, then can she force him into becoming a Muslim again?/QUOTE
She should try for some time and if that doesn't work she should take divorce

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

what if he does not tell her and keeps the faith to himself while outwardly remaining a muslim?
see its not black and white all the time. there are so many grey areas.

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

[quote="Khalil KhaaN FaaKhta"]

if the man renounces Islam, he becomes murtad in Islamic terms and at this point the marriage is NULL and VOID. any relationship after this juncture will be Haraam...she would have to go to court and ask for divorce./QUOTE
why go for simple divorce? if she is that religious she can kill him without any repercussions in an islamic theocratic society. after all he is a murtad, right?

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

^The punishment for apostasy is death in Islam. I don't beileve Allah orders the believers to go out and kill all atheists.

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband


in that case he's a munafiq and that has no affect on the marriage contract. A ruling is applied when his kufr becomes apparent.

why go for simple divorce? if she is that religious she can kill him without any repercussions in an islamic theocratic society. after all he is a murtad, right?
[/QUOTE]
who told you that a Muslim on the street can carry out the hadd? Hadd is always carried out by the authority after an evidence is established against the person in the Shari'ah court.

@Theorist

as-salaamu alaykum

my brother, what's the benefit of asking hypothetical questions? We have been advised against indulging into hypothetical situations because they bring no benefit to us. It's the month of the Qur'an, this time could be spent on something else which will benefit us more: reciting the Qur'an, perfecting tajweed, memorizing the Qur'an, making dua'a etc.

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

Hmm, I see what Apricot is saying, but all the hadith and verses say that a person should not enter into marriage with a disbeliever. However, I don't know if it translates if a person becomes a disbeliever after marriage, whether athiest or becoming christian or even buddhist later. Correct me if I'm wrong, but when a married non-muslim converts, I think their marriage is still valid, whether the person is male or female, they don't have to divorce their spouse upon conversion.

So i don't know if there is a clear cut answer in this situation. What if the couple have children, and the religious mom wants to give her kids a wholesome family upbringing. Just because dad is no longer muslim doesn't mean he doesn't have morals and may continue to support his wife and kids...we need to get a real scholarly ruling on this...

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband

well, consider two scenarios. 1) two muslims married and later one of them apostated. end result: muslim with an non-muslim say atheist spouse.
2) two atheists married. one of them converted to Islam. end result: muslim with atheist spouse.
Now what you are suggesting is that in the first case, marriage becomes null and void but not in the 2nd case as the historical evidence suggests. my question is why is it so when the end result is the same i.e., muslim with an atheist. The only possible explanation would be that in the first case, one of them left Islam and it is due to apostasy that marriage becomes void not because one is muslim and other is atheist. right?

[QUOTE]
In the case of 1) The wife of Nuh (AS) was murtad and he did NOT divorce her ... He merely left her alone and they each went their own way. This supports our argument.

In the case of 2) Lut (AS) didn't divorce his wife, she was punished on the spot of her rejection and as a result their marriage was no more. This also supports our argument.

[/QUOTE]
If my above mentioned conclusion is right then why in the case of Noah(as) and Lot(egarde do you have in this ras), marriage was anulled. what evidence do you have in this regard while Quran mentions both these women as wives of these holy men.

I have no preconcieved idea. I just need to know the truth.

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Re: Religious muslim wife & Atheist husband


She cannot force faith upon anyone for ONLY Allah gives a person faith and he also takes it away. She can only do her best but guidance is not in her hands. She should consult with a reliable, experienced and learned scholar as to what her next steps should be as he would be able to give her the best advice.