Okay somebody answer this question for me. I don’t intend to be rude to anyone who married a non-Muslim. I am just looking for clarification.
- I know the Prophet SAWS married women who were among the People of the Book. Did his wives convert to Islam then? Were they active followers of Islam?
One wife of the prophet came from a Jewish tribe, the prophet married her to create a treaty with that tribe. She was the daughter of the chief. After marriage her tribe and she herself all became Muslim. Another wife was a Christian. Maria the Copt. She was a slave to the Christian governor of Egypt and was given as a gift to the prophet. On her way to madinah she listened to the companions talking about Muhammad and became Muslim. Muhammad pbuh married her while she had already converted. All his wives were practising strong Muslims.
- Muslim men are allowed to marry Christian/Jewish women…but is it on the condition that they convert to Islam…or are they allowed to maintain their religions even after marriage?
They can maintain their religions after marriage but the children must be raised as Muslim. In Islam the father is given the right and duty to bring his children up as Muslim. But it is still recommended that Muslims marry Muslims. The option to marry Jews and Christians is there but it is not recommended practice.
- If the non-Muslim women that the Prophet SAWS married converted to Islam …or even if they sincerely agreed to practice Islam prior to marrying him…then is the Sunnah being adhered to in modern times if the wife has no real interest in desire in practicing Islam and isn’t even a practicing Christian or Jew herself?
The problem with applying this idea to today is that many people are Jews or Christians by name only. They don’t actually believe in their religion and don’t follow it. In this case you aren’t really marrying people of the book. You’re marrying disbelievers and in Islam that isn’t allowed. Hope that helps.