Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim
WHAT HAPPENS TO A MARRIAGE IF ONE OF THE COUPLE CONVERTS TO ISLAM?
Traditional Islamic jurisprudence says that Muslims should only marry each other. The only exception to this is that Muslim men are allowed to marry women who are Ahl al-Kitab (People of Scripture), usually limited to Jews and Christians. Traditionally, Muslim women were not allowed to marry non-Muslim men. But what happens to a non-Muslim couple who are married, and later one or both of them convert to Islam? Here are some fatwas on the issue, that slightly differ from each other:
A. Fatwa of The European Council for Fatwa & Research, including Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, Sheikh ‘Abdullah bin Bayyah, Sheikh ‘Abdullah al-Judai, Sheikh Suhaib Hasan and others (from Sheikh ‘Abdullah bin Bayyah, Sina’at al-Fatwa, pp. 356-7)
- If both of the couple become Muslim, and they are not close relatives by blood or suckling that would make the marriage invalid, their marriage continues in its validity. (NB they do not need an Islamic nikah ceremony.)
- If only the husband converts to Islam, they are not close relatives and the wife is a person of scripture, their marriage continues in its validity.
- If only the wife converts to Islam, the view of the Council is that: a) if she converts before the marriage is consummated, she must leave him immediately; b) if she converts after consummation and her husband converts within 3 months or within 3 of her monthly cycles, their marriage continues in its validity; c) as before, but if a long time period has passed, she may remain with him in the expectation that he will convert also. If he eventually converts, their marriage continues in its validity, without needing a new marriage ceremony. d) If she wishes to leave her husband after the 3-month time period, she should seek dissolution of her marriage from the relevant authorities.
4. If the wife is Muslim and the husband is not, the four Madhhabs do not allow her to remain with him after the expiry of the 3-month period, or to have sexual relations with him. However, some scholars allow her to remain with him, fully-married, as long as he does not harm her regarding her religious practice and as long as she has hope that he will also convert to Islam eventually.
It is authentically narrated from ‘Umar bin al-Khattab that a woman became a Muslim while her husband remained non-Muslim: he ruled, “If she wishes, she may leave him or if she wishes, she may remain with him.” Also, there is an authentic narration from ‘Ali bin Abi Talib: “If the wife of a Jewish or Christian man becomes Muslim, he is entitled to remain her husband, since he has a covenant with the Muslims.” Similar views are authentically-narrated from Ibrahim al-Nakh’i, Imam Sha’bi and Hammad bin Abi Sulayman.
B. FATWA OF SHEIKH ‘ABDULLAH AL-JUDAI (from his book Islam Ahad al-Zawjayn, pp. 249-251)
- There is no decisive, unequivocal text (nass qati’) about this matter.
- There is no consensus (ijma’) about this matter.
- Pre-Islamic marriages are sound and valid. They can only be annulled for definite reasons. Difference of religion is not a definite cause of invalidity due to the absence of an unequivocal text and due to the existence of a difference of opinion about the matter.
- Evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah shows that a couple remaining together with a difference of religion does not damage the basis of their faiths. Their relationship remains sound, not corrupt.
- The simple fact that one of them converts to Islam does not invalidate the marriage.
- Despite the multitude of people converting to Islam in his time, it is not recorded at all that the Prophet (pbuh) separated a husband and wife or ordered their separation due to one of them converting, or due to one of them converting before the other. What is authentic from him is the opposite, as in the case of his daughter Zaynab who remained married to Abul-‘As for six years after she converted to Islam and before he did so, just before the Conquest of Mecca and after the revelation of Surah al-Mumtahinah. The most that happened was that she emigrated and left him in Mecca after the Battle of Badr, but her emigration (hijrah) did not nullify their marriage.
- To say that the ayah of al-Mumtahinah ends marital relations due to a difference of religion is not correct. It only applies when one spouse is at war with Islam (harbi), not simply a non-Muslim (kafir).
- The ayah of al-Mumtahinah allows a believer to marry a believing woman whose husband is at war with Islam. It does not obligate this. The story of Zaynab shows that a woman’s marriage to a non-Muslim (harbi) man changes from being binding to being allowed. The reason for this is the difficulty of her returning to her harbi husband, and the difficulty she faces without a husband.
- The ayah forbids a Muslim man from retaining a non-Muslim wife who has not joined him in emigrating from a land of kufr to a land of Islam, or has fled from him, renouncing her faith and joining non-Muslims who are at war with Islam. The reason for this is to prevent an inclination towards ones enemies, as happened with Hatib bin Abi Balta’ah, who wrote to the polytheists about some of the movements of the Muslims due to the presence of some of his relatives in Mecca.
- When one of the couple converts to Islam whilst the other is not at war with Islam, they are allowed to remain together. They are not separated simply due to difference of religion. The evidence for this is the practice of the Prophet (pbuh) and the Companions regarding those who embraced Islam in Mecca before the Hijrah and at the Conquest of Mecca. This was also the fatwa given by ‘Umar during his caliphate without any opposition, and also by ‘Ali.
- A difference in religion due to the conversion of one of the couple to Islam allows the annulment of the marriage but does not obligate it, as shown by the judgment of ‘Umar with the endorsement of the Companions.
- The conclusions of the Madhhabs in this matter are not to be given precedence due to their opposition to what is established, weakness of evidence (dalil), weakness of juristic indication (istidlal), or all of the above.
- The allowance for the couple to remain together means that their marital life together is permitted, including sexual intercourse.
C. TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE LIKELY EFFECTS ON CHILDREN
The majority of jurists regard a man who doesn’t pray regularly out of laziness as still a Muslim and not a kafir, so his wife is not obliged to divorce him.
In certain situations, the wife is allowed to have patience and persevere with her marriage, despite the objectionable behaviour of her husband, especially if she has children from him and she fears that they will become psychologically ruined and wasted.
(Sheikh ‘Abdullah bin Bayyah, Sina’at al-Fatwa, p. 353)
Compiled and translated by Usama Hasan, London, 13th January 2012
Minor updates: 21/12/2015
A PDF version of this article can be found here: One of a couple converting to Islam
Update: 26/01/2017
D. A SIMILAR ANSWER GIVEN BY SHAYKH GIBRIL FOUAD HADDAD
Q&A reposted from http://eshaykh.com/halal_haram/convert-required-to-divorce-non-muslim-spouse/
Convert required to divorce non-Muslim spouse?
Question:
As-salamu ‘alaikum,
An urgent question that has certainly come up again and again, requiring an absolutely authoritative answer, is what is to be done if a married woman accepts Islam but her husband does not.
Let’s say as an extreme example that they’ve been married for fifty years, have ten children together and love each other dearly. The wife has no job skills with which to provide for herself, much less for her children; the husband is ill or handicapped and his wife takes care of his needs. He’s fine with her new faith and lets her practice as she likes and teach it to their children but does not want to accept or commit to it for himself.
What to do? Telling a Muslim woman who is already married to a non-Muslim man that she must divorce him because staying with him is haram, deserves the death penalty and will earn her Hell isn’t the same thing as telling an unmarried Muslimah that their intended marriage to a non-Muslim man is prohibited and will nullify her profession of Islam. Moreover, there are no children involved who love their father and might end up traumatized and hating Islam if it the breakup of the household. Additionally, forcing *already-married couples *to break up would certainly deter many non-Muslim women from converting to Islam, no matter how much they may wish to if it means breaking an existing or possible future marriage.
Please understand that I’m not arguing with Allah Subhanuhu wa T’a’ala. Hasha, God forbid! Rather, I’m just trying to understand how the Islamic Shar’iah deals with this specific situation, which is certainly not rare in our time. The website,
deals with the issue but I need to know how acceptable this opinion is for Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jam’ah. May Allah greatly reward you for any help you can give.
Answer:
Alaykum salam,
If there is acceptance on his part and tolerance for his wife’s religion then there is hope for himself eventually accepting Islam. This hope is the basis for validating the continuity of their marriage as in the case of Fatima bint Asad and her non-Muslim husband Abu Talib.
And Allah knows best.
Hajj Gibril Haddad
Tags: conversion, converts, fatwa, husband, interfaith, interfaith marriage, Islam, marriage, married to a non-Muslim, my husband is not Muslim, my wife is not Muslim, nikah, Qur'an, reverts, Sharia, Shariah, Sunnah, wife
UNITY 
January 13, 2012 at 7:16 pm |
When The Prophet (SAW) liberated Makkah, Ikrama abi Jahal, fled. His wife embraced Islam and the Prophet (SAW) forgave Ikrama.
When she caught up with him and said he was forgive, they journeyed back. He tried to be intimate with her, but she did not allow this because he was still non Muslim.
Todays sholars will also permit the marriage of man with man soon!!! The prophet (SAW) warned the fitna of a man with knowledge!! These ulema shouild fear Allah
January 27, 2012 at 5:11 pm |
Thank you, Mike. What do you make, then, of the fatwas of Caliphs Umar & Ali that are referred to in the article?
January 28, 2012 at 12:55 am |
muslim sex advice…
[…]WHAT HAPPENS TO A MARRIAGE IF ONE OF THE COUPLE CONVERTS TO ISLAM? « UNITY[…]…
June 21, 2012 at 8:12 am |
If marriage between muslims and non-muslims are valid in the case above, what’s the difference in a muslim woman marrying a non-muslim man (of the book) who is interested in converting to islam if he allows her to practice Islam, to learn about Islam together and has agreed for all the children from the marriage to be raised as muslims.
July 17, 2014 at 12:01 pm |
O believers, when believing women come over to you as refugees, then examine them. God alone is cognizant of their faith. If you find that they are believers, do not send them back to unbelievers. They are not lawful for them, nor are infidels lawful for believing women.
August 14, 2015 at 6:07 pm |
Having been already estabilshed ina marriage especially with responsibility of children is much more difficult to divorce than those who marry nonbelievers. These are clearly 2 different situations. May Allah may it easy.
November 26, 2012 at 9:07 pm |
You who give such a fatwas have te fear Allah becose the ijma of scholars is estabilishet that a muslim woman is haram to be maried to a kafir or to stay maried to a kafir if she converts to islam. Anyone who belive that this is alowed becomes a kafir for allowing what Allah has forbiden: And if you know them belivers (the muslim women) do not turn them back to dhe kuffars, no them (muslim woman) are allowed for them and no them (kafirs) are allowed for them. (Mumtehinah) So fear Allah and do not call muslim women to zina, if you want do call kafirs to islam by allowing te muslim women to comitte zina then send your doghters and sisters to find some kafir boyfrend maybe these kafirs convert to islam after having relaitonship with you doghters. Don’t change the rulings of islam and them pretending that you are calling to islam.
January 30, 2013 at 11:59 am |
Think about the fact, that if we divorce because of my (possible) conversion to Islam, there will be at least 30 people who will never even consider Islam as a true religion after that. That includes my husband and children, our parents and siblings and nephews.
The only reason for that I haven´t converted yet is the question of marriage here. I am happily married and we love each other. I see my family as potential converts.
But, maybe it´s better to stay as a christian then and still believe in one God. It can´t be right to hurt so many innocent people including my own children.
And even if I would convert, I couldn´t do it openly or visit the mosque because of other muslims would laugh me out because of my (so far) non-muslim family (and the family is a blessing for me, nothing to laugh at).
If I was young I would convert and marry a practising muslim, of course. It seems to be that I and many other women have lost “everything” by living our own lives… and God did know that it would go like this.
If I have to choose between being a muslim or a mother, I choose to be a mother. And wish that my children will later choose the right path – in time!
February 2, 2013 at 10:00 pm |
All these problems arise because Islam is a wholistic system. When you try and practise it in a non_Islamic soicety many problems/issues arise.
So instead of changing Islam to fit fads and fashion. Muslims should construct an Islamic society in the muslim world so people then witness what islam is.
These marriages issues are not new. Non Muslim women embrcaced Islam during the prophets era whem Muslims were a minority. So we whould follow their example and not re-engineer Islam.
September 6, 2013 at 3:27 pm |
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May 14, 2014 at 3:07 pm |
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October 11, 2014 at 4:46 am |
Thank you for this. Most online discussions of Islam and interfaith marriage overlook my situation. My wife follows a non-Abrahamic (non-kitabi) religion, and I suppose would be classed as an idolator. I would like to convert to Islam, but am unwilling to divorce her. We have a good marriage. She believes what she believes, and lets me believe what I believe.
I wonder how representative the above viewsare of Islamic jurisprudence. I wish I could see a breakdown by school. We live in a non-Muslim society, but I wonder what law would govern our situation in various Muslim countries.
January 22, 2023 at 3:38 pm |
I am in the same situation.
September 11, 2015 at 6:10 pm |
i have a question, i am a christian woman currently. I plan on taking my shahada and marrying a muslim man. I have a son, from a previous relationship who is not muslim. Due to laws and interactions with his father, my son cannot convert with me without his fathers permission. (highly unlikely) How do i go about that relationship and the holidays involved in christianity? Without my son feeling upset about it. Or like something is wrong.
October 27, 2015 at 8:01 pm |
Trust your instinct, and follow your head and heart to do the right thing and not upset family members. There are many mixed Muslim-Christian families around due to people converting from one faith to another, and they generally manage to avoid friction, celebrate and respect each others’ traditions and festivals, etc. All the best, and may Allah/God be with you!
October 5, 2015 at 9:22 am |
my relationship with my wife goes off and on,lately. I told her to leave in my parents house because she sleep in different room. Now i suspect that she might have a muslim man. If so, is there a possibility that our marriage already annulled?Now what happened to us?is there anyone can advice my situation?thank you
October 27, 2015 at 7:56 pm |
From what you say, I doubt that your marriage would be annulled: it depends on where you live, and the law of your country regarding marriage.
October 16, 2015 at 2:30 pm |
can a Christian man convert and marry a Muslim woman
October 27, 2015 at 7:54 pm |
Yes
November 13, 2015 at 6:04 am |
absolutely YES, however if you are previously married under civil law.. then you can be charged of a bigamy case.. there is a new jurisprudence now that penalizes a converted man who enters into a subsequent marriage .. there is a remedy however its a long discussion.. you may want to contact me 0977-2035-730
November 6, 2015 at 3:15 am |
My boyfriend is a Baha’i, so he believes in Muhammad but does not follow Islam. At first I think over time he is willing to convert and become a Muslim. But he believes that we can be together regardless the religions we follow.
Is it possible for me to be married with him without he convert?
If I married to him without his conversion and my parents get angry and disown me, is it a sin for me? Appreciate your thought on this.
November 25, 2015 at 4:38 pm |
Salaam.
Bahai are not Muslims, so a Muslim woman’s marriage would not be considered legal under the shariah.
Also according to most schools of thought, a girl needs her father’s consent to get marriage,unless she has been married before.
Best to consult a recognised imam in person rather than get answers from anonymous people on the net.
May Allah guide you to righteousness. Ameen.
November 25, 2015 at 5:00 pm
Thank you, Hatfield. According to the Hanafi school, and adopted by both Siba’i and Zuhayli amongst recent jurists, a woman does not need her father or other male guardian’s permission to marry.
December 27, 2016 at 4:24 am |
If you would still like to discuss your situation, please email me privately: dr(dot)usama(dot)hasan(at)gmail(dot)com, thanks.
December 19, 2015 at 8:17 am |
I’m a Christian women. My husband is a hindu. We do register married. my husband and I have 3 kids now. me and my husband has separated for 14 years. my husband make a women pregnant and living with her with one baby. Later the women leave my husband and go away with the baby. Now my husband have a Malay women and he want to married her and convert to Muslim and divorce me. Please I want to know what I can do now and how is the procedure.
December 21, 2015 at 4:08 am |
Dear Jenie, I recommend that you seek the advice of a good family lawyer in your area. He or she will be able to advise you about the best course of action with regard to the divorce. As far as I can see, your separated husband’s choices about converting to Islam etc, do *not* affect you in any other way – he will still have to agree to a civil divorce, since you have a registered marriage.
March 19, 2016 at 11:53 am |
Is there any law of muslim if the man converted to muslim and marry again although he has his first wife christian and have children and the wife do not nottice that his husband converted to muslim and he dont sustain the needs of his first family and it is legal what should i do
December 25, 2016 at 7:01 am |
Apologies for the delay in replying. From what you describe, you may wish to obtain a civil and/or Islamic divorce. May God be with you.
April 28, 2016 at 2:11 pm |
Assalamu alaikum! Can anyone help me with my questions please…..I am a Muslim convert for two years now. I had a previous Catholic marriage but had been separated for more than 22 years now. Is that marriage still valid after I have converted to Islam? If it is still valid, what do I need to do to make it invalid? Assuming it is no longer valid, do I still need a wali when I decide to get married? Should I still need to be given a mahr by my future husband?
December 25, 2016 at 7:05 am |
wa ‘alaykum as-salam & apologies for the delay in replying. The main issue sounds like this: your Catholic marriage is likely to be legally recognised in the country where you contracted it. You may need to seek legal advice in order to obtain a divorce or annul the marriage, since divorce is generally prohibited in Catholicism.
Once you have a divorce or annulment, you may indeed marry again as a Muslim woman, according to Islamic ethics. There is some disagreement on the matter, but I recommend the Hanafi view that you do not need a wali to get married, unless you wish to have one. Also, you are entitled to ask for a mahr or to waive it.
May 4, 2016 at 3:07 pm |
If Christian girl is married in philippines and fall in love with muslim man and they want make their relationship legal. If she will convert in muslim and can get married with muslim man in abroad.
December 25, 2016 at 7:07 am |
You have answered your own question, but please note also that according to the dominant Islamic tradition, a Muslim man may marry a Christian woman without her converting to Islam. She may of course convert to Islam if she wishes.
I am not familiar with the laws regarding marriage and religion in the Philippines, so please seek advice elsewhere about that.
May 22, 2016 at 2:53 am |
Salaam,
My boyfriend now is legally married.He converted to Islam after 3 years from their marriage.His wife is remain christian.after 6 years of being together they decided to end up their relationship to the reason of they don’t understand each other no more.always quarel,until things become more worst.after 2 years of being separated (but they are not legally separated) we meet each other.and oir relationship become deeper and much happier.He proposed a marriage to me in Islam faith.So,then I converted to Islam and we marry through Islam faith.
Is there marriage still valid?can I carry my husband name?Is his first wife can file a case to us?if she,what kind of case?and about the property that we invested,is his first wife have the right to it? Considering that the time that he converted to islam his first wife didnt know about it.
Please give an advise.
Thank you,
Sincerely yours,
Sittie Aisha from Philippines
December 25, 2016 at 7:09 am |
Salaam. Please seek legal advice from someone who knows the laws about marriage and religious faith in the Philippines. Sorry I am not able to help you more. God be with you.
May 26, 2016 at 9:42 am |
My husband and i been married in civil marriage for 14 years,i worked in taiwan for 3 years.we are okay in that past 2 years but suddenly when i got home after my contract,without my consent he converted to muslim to marry another woman,and that woman is also just converted to muslim.Is our civil marriage still valid?can i sue him to court?
December 25, 2016 at 7:10 am |
From what you say, it sounds like your civil marriage is indeed still valid. Please get good legal advice in your locality, since I don’t know which country you are in. God be with you.
July 17, 2016 at 10:04 pm |
Salaam,
I am married in paper and separated for 16 years, i am now moslem, would be my marriage as christian will be null and void even without court procedures in Philippines, and can I marry a moslem man without any issues
thank you
Jannah
December 25, 2016 at 7:12 am |
Salaam. Please seek expert legal advice regarding marriage and religious faith in the Philippines, about which I am not aware. However, it sounds like you should obtain a divorce on paper to end your marriage on paper, before you marry again under the law of the Philippines.
July 28, 2016 at 3:50 pm |
Salam Alaikum, I have been married for 9 years and together 16, My husband and I have 4 children and both have been raised practicing Pentecostal Christians since babys. MY Question is this: if i was to take my shahada and became a revert but my husband remains a Practicing christian will it be legal in the eyes of islam, I have spoken to many muslims who say i will have to leave my Husband but we have such a happy God filled marriage and a secured life our children are well structured and are respectful of islam so is my husband but he refuses to revert as he believes 100% in the father son and holy spirit doctrine. for me the scripture of the bible has led me to islam but it makes no sense breaking a covenant of marriage until our death that we both took before God. Please help me as this is weighing heavy on me and i know Islam to be the trueful. Kindest regards Sammy
August 12, 2016 at 4:29 pm |
wa ‘alaykum as-salam. Please read the post above. As per the authoritative fatwa there, you can take the shahada, convert to Islam and remain with your husband, perfectly good and blessed within Islam. May God be with you and your husband. – Usama
August 2, 2016 at 10:20 pm |
Salam.me and my ex husband plan to annulment.but we don’t have money.he have now gf and plan to marry.me also have bf.and I want convert Muslim..if possible I can marry my Muslim bf if I convert Muslim?and my married to my ex husband is still valid.really I want convert muslim even i dont have bf before.please help me.thank
December 25, 2016 at 7:14 am |
Salam. You should legally end or annul your previous marriage before getting married again, otherwise you may be breaking the law in the country where you live. Please seek expert legal advice in your locality.
August 9, 2016 at 7:49 pm |
My wife and i is separated for 13 years, she has husband now and kid, i am now a converted muslim , what will happen to our civil marriage in the philippines. Can i divorce her in shariah court, and if approve is it recognize by philippine law thanks
December 25, 2016 at 7:14 am |
I don’t know about marriage law or shariah courts in the Philippines. Please seek expert legal advice in your locality.
September 28, 2016 at 8:11 pm |
Does anyone have an opinion on the following.
I am the product of a marriage between a Muslim farther and a Muslim convert, so by birth I would have been recognized as Muslim except my parents were about to divorce and my mother flew back to Europe to give birth and secretly had me also christened before flying back to Malaysia.
I grew to age 10 in Malaysia as a Muslim and then my mother moved herself and my siblings to the UK after her divorce and the ongoing “Emergency” in Malaysia at the time. While in the UK I was presented as Christian and was constantly at odds with my families abandonment of our previous value system and the imposition of non halal practices.
The first question.
1, Am I considered a Muslim who was abandoned by his father and faith or am I a christian who thought he was a Muslim.
This is enough for now but the plot gets worse!
December 25, 2016 at 6:57 am |
Sounds to me like you were brought up as a Muslim until age 10 at least. Assuming you’re an adult now, it really does not matter, since what is important now is what you freely believe and choose to practise in terms of religious or spiritual tradition, if any. God be with you!
November 12, 2016 at 1:31 am |
Reblogged this on No More Hurting People Peace and commented:
Thank you for this great and thoughtful article 🙂 I always thought it was insane for people to get divorced simply because one person became a Muslim since Islam places such a high importance on family.
December 25, 2016 at 7:16 am |
Thank you. I would be very interested in Shia jurisprudence on the above matter, although note that some of the fatwa bodies referenced above have a very small Shia representation sometimes.
January 4, 2017 at 12:14 pm |
Salaam, thank you very much for writing this article, which has brought some peace to my heart.
I have a question, which I would be grateful to receive your opinion:
I am Muslim female and married a convert to Islam and since living together, have found that he practices in a completely different way to me. For example, I strongly believe in praying 5 times a day, and he does not believe it is compulsory.
I am learning everyday, that there are some fundamental things we greatly differ on. I have been focussing on this a lot recently as I feel afraid, and not sure if I have done wrong by marrying someone who was still finding his way with Islam. I know if I don’t focus on these things, and allow him to find Islam in his own way, then we have few problems. But we discuss it everyday because I feel strongly I have done wrong and failed somewhere by praying someone new to Islam.
I fear that he will move further away from Islam and maybe it was a phase for him and I should have waited a few more years or let it go. I am not sure whether, I should keep going or finish things before my fear becomes a reality.
Have I done wrong by marrying a convert who is still trying to understand Islam and may find it is not for him.
I am overthinking as I can’t possibly predict what the future holds but my love for Allah is turning in to fear of Allah and I feel there were signs that I should have waited but at the time I felt the right thing to do was get married.
I understand over thinking leads to confusion and is no benefit to anyone but with matters like this, I feel there is very little guidance or asssitance.
Thank you
January 26, 2017 at 5:12 pm |
Assalamu ‘alaykum. Thank you for your question. From what you’ve described, I’m sure that you did the right thing in getting married. My advice (as an imam for over 30 years): follow your heart, and encourage your husband to follow his. But by all means do discuss your understandings of Islam with each other, in a loving, civilised and polite manner, and learn together about faith, religion and spirituality to deepen your understanding. Life is a continuous journey to God, so keep praying for divine guidance in your journeys and trust that the divine will looks after you. You certainly should not be considering divorce or anything like that, simply on the basis of your differing interpretations of Islam. And, if it’s any consolation, there are many couples in similar positions to yours. May Allah be with you both, and bless and guide you both always!
February 12, 2017 at 11:53 pm |
My husbands plans to convert to Muslim. I am a 100% Catholic believer by birth so does he. Is it okay if I don’t convert to Islam. I don’t have anything against their belief and I think Islam is a great religion. I was wondering, we are married under civil law, does it void it?Can he just go ahead and remarried if he wants to? How about my kids?What religion does they follow?With inheritances does this void my children as legal heirs in any case he converts himself to Islam?Thank you.
April 6, 2017 at 1:23 am |
1) You do not need to convert to Islam, unless you wish to. The Qur’an is very clear: “There is no compulsion in religion.” (2:256)
2) I don’t know which country you are in, but if your husband converts to Islam, this should not affect your civil marriage in any country: by definition, civil marriage is not religious marriage, so a change of religion should not affect it at all.
3) Since his conversion to Islam will not void your civil marriage, he cannot get remarried to someone else, unless (i) the two of you divorce, or (ii) polygamy (in this case, a husband having multiple wives) is legal in your country.
4) Your children will follow whatever their parents teach them until they become adults, when they are free to choose their own paths in life. Hence, the two of you (parents) should discuss amongst yourselves and agree as to what religious teaching you impart to your children.
5) According to some Muslims, only Muslim children (& a Muslim wife) can inherit from a Muslim father. However, according to other Muslims, this is not the case and non-Muslim children (& wife) can inherit from a Muslim father. Elsewhere on this blog, you will find a fatwa stating the second view.
May God bless you all!
March 13, 2017 at 8:43 pm |
Maybe can help me?
I am married. Have 2 kids (10 and 13 years old). 3 years before i convert to Islam. Husband does not prevent me from practicing my faith, can i stay with him or must divorce?
April 6, 2017 at 1:24 am |
As the fatwas in the above article state, you are perfectly entitled to stay with him and enjoy a full, happy married life. There is no reason or need whatsoever to even think about divorce. May God bless you all!
March 17, 2017 at 8:52 pm |
I am christian woman working in middle east for 2 years and legally married in Philipines. I have a Muslim man. he asked me to mary him. I want to covert to Islam. after my convertion is there any possibility I can marry my Muslim man here in the middle east? what will happened to my marriage in the Philippines? please advise.
April 6, 2017 at 1:28 am |
From what you describe, it would be illegal for you to marry the Muslim man in the Middle East whilst you are legally married in the Philippines: this would be illegal and breaking the law in both the Philippines and in your Middle East country. If you wish to marry this Muslim man, you will need to end your Philippines marriage, i.e. either by divorce or annulment, and then you would be free to marry the Muslim man in the Middle East. May God bless you and make matters easy for you.
April 10, 2017 at 10:23 am |
assalamu alaykum, i was marry a christian man since july 22,2003 we have kids and i work in abroad start january 22,2013 after 3 years in abroad i comeback my country he is not faithfull our marriage when i comeback my country he have story he cheating me, then i convert islam last january 25 i graduate level one and hamdulilah im completely islam now.. what if i want to marry one single muslim man i can marry him????
April 10, 2017 at 10:28 am |
what if my husband dont want to sign any papers for annulment, what can i do?? i keep with him even his a christiam and im a new muslim now…
May 23, 2017 at 2:48 am
I advise you to get appropriate legal advice for ending your marriage where you live, if indeed that is still what you wish to do.
But as per the fatwa above, Islam does not prevent you from remaining married to your Christian husband, if you so wish.
April 18, 2017 at 1:34 pm |
What happens with new baby in family like this, when woman is converting to Islam and man is still non Muslim? Baby is automatically muslim, or get fathers faith?
May 23, 2017 at 2:51 am |
This is up to the parents to decide and agree, in terms of which religion(s), if any, they will bring the baby up with. Islam is not a race or tribe, so religious affiliations are not automatically passed down.
A separate Islamic teaching states that all babies are born sinless and upon a natural, God-given state with the capacity for natural faith in God, unless parents and teachers intervene in a negative way.
May 3, 2017 at 12:16 am |
Why is it that example given , question asked and discussion are always based on a wife converting to Islam but the husband remain
non Muslim but not otherwise?
Is there any special reason.?
I believe the issue faced and solution should be the same for all cases regardless if either the wife or husband converted and the other did not.
May 23, 2017 at 2:53 am |
Thank you for the observation. This was actually answered in the first paragraph of the blog post, if you re-read it carefully: traditionally, there was no problem with a Muslim husband being married to a non-Muslim wife; the other way around was problematic.
That’s why this post and the fatwas cited cover both cases, but understandably focus on the case of the wife converting to Islam.
May 7, 2017 at 7:08 am |
marriage is once life happens and marriage was there before religion so let all understand that we all worship the same god,please there’s are some parents who don’t want their children to get married to different trebles so what of that one too
May 23, 2017 at 2:54 am |
I agree. Qur’an 49:13 beautifully states that God created us in nations and tribes for us to learn to know each other (and not to hate or despise each other).
May 7, 2017 at 5:35 pm |
i m an indian girl nd i m hindu ….i love a boy who is muslim i want to convert to muslim …but i don’t have any guidance …i want to ask do i need to seek permission from smone to accept islam …nd wht guidlines do i need to follow !! plz hlp
May 23, 2017 at 2:57 am |
If you wish to convert to Islam, you may do so very easily by simply declaring, “There is no god but God. Muhammad is the Messenger of God.” You may wish to say this in Arabic, in which case a Muslim friend or local imam at the mosque will be able to help you.
Many mosques will give you a certificate of conversion to Islam, and in some countries you can register your change of religion. It all depends on where you live and what the local laws and customs are.
June 28, 2017 at 4:14 am |
Dear Raeha
Please study this online leaflet which will give you the answers to most of your questions. Copy and paste the address into your browser:
http://www.newmuslimguide.com/es
May 18, 2017 at 4:52 am |
Iam a christian.and i was thingking to convert as a muslim.can i get a devorce to my christian marriage? If iam a muslim?
May 23, 2017 at 2:58 am |
As per the fatwa above, your conversion would not automatically mean that you are Islamically divorced from your Christian husband.
If you wish to divorce your husband, you will need to follow the law of your country and get appropriate legal advice.
May 31, 2017 at 9:40 pm |
Salam brother and sister
Ive been married before to a christian man we have 3 kids then i decided to convert as muslim i tried to conviced him and teach my husband about islam but he doesnt want. After 2 years we both decided to live separately but were not annuled yet coz its hard in the philippines. Can u help me what i need to do to make our annulment ligalize?i wanted also to change my passport name into my islamic name but what are the requirement? I want to bring back my last name in my passport but dont know what to do please help me. Thank you so much
June 24, 2017 at 6:52 pm |
Salam. Please consult a lawyer or other legal help in the Philippines for these issues. My only comment is that as the fatwas in this post show, Islam allows you to stay married to your Christian husband, if you both wish that. God bless!
June 19, 2017 at 4:40 am |
I do not know if it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else encountering issues
with your website. It appears as though some of the text in your content are running
off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is happening to them too?
This may be a problem with my browser because I’ve had this happen previously.
Kudos
June 24, 2017 at 6:45 pm |
I also find that this happens with some browsers 😦
June 28, 2017 at 4:06 am |
The Prophet (saws) allowed his own Daughter to remain married to her kafir husband for six years, until he eventually reverted to Islaam. Also’Umar and Ali, two of the rightly guided Khalifas, allowed marriages between kafir and muslim(a) to continue. That’s Enough for me!
June 30, 2017 at 9:06 pm |
[…] also wanted to share some of the comments on the Unity1 WordPress site that I feel are pertinent to this discussion, but I encourage my readers to read all of them […]
July 21, 2017 at 3:50 am |
my wife is converted Muslim. we had my daughter 4 years old. and we divorced after 6 years. she not allowed me to meet my kid and stay with her non Muslims parent home,. i file a custody case recently. and wana know is there any rules i get back my kid?? wife stays muslim.
November 9, 2017 at 3:01 am |
Islamic ethics and law promotes what is best for your daughter and her parents, which usually means fair access to both parents, as long as there are no good reasons why this shouldn’t be the case. This agrees with local laws in most countries. So apart from contacting your ex-wife via mediators, you may need to go through the courts or legal process in your country, or family mediators. Allah be with you and bless all of your family.
July 28, 2017 at 10:43 am |
Salaam, i converted to Islam and became a Muslim.. I have a wife with three kids, she has not supported me since i converted to Islam, always told me that i have changed to someone new and that she is loosing her feelings for me, i am new to Islam and i love the religion, i love Allah, she told me that she will leave me as i continue with my faith Islam, i fear for the breakdown and for my kids. I love her, but i cannot choose between her and my faith, please help me to do the right thing
November 9, 2017 at 2:58 am |
Dear Amos/Umar, Salaams. I recommend a good marriage mediator or counsellor, especially one who understands the importance of faith and religion to believers. Before that, try loving, honest conversations with your wife. Do all the things with her and as a family that were positive and good for both of you before you became Muslim. Your conversion to, and practice of, Islam, should enhance and improve things, not cause problems. This is because Islam promotes love, mercy, compassion, kindness, spirituality and family values – all of these qualities are directed towards parents, spouses, children and everyone. May Allah bless you and your family, and heal any rifts! Btw I recommend Sheikh Hamza Yusuf’s writings and online videos giving advice on family issues and on developing our spirituality and improving our hearts.
September 16, 2017 at 7:39 pm |
I am a christian and married with a christain man,we are separated for more than two.years but not legally separated(no separation paper. If I convert into islam can I marry with a muslim man?what happen to.my first marriage?
November 9, 2017 at 2:50 am |
Dear Helen, This depends on the laws in the country where you live. But almost certainly, you will need to get a legal divorce from your first husband, before you can marry anyone else, whether Christian or not.
November 30, 2017 at 1:14 pm |
I’m married in phils,but 5 years separate but not legally separated…can i get married here in Saudi Arabia with my pakistani bf even if I’m not legally separated from Philippines..i converted Islam more than two years already
December 13, 2017 at 2:59 am |
As-salamu ‘alaykum, Kate. Please get legal advice: it will be illegal for you to marry your bf in Philippines or Saudi, because you are legally still married to your first husband, even if you are separated. However, the authorities in Saudi may be able to annul (faskh) your first marriage on the basis that you are now a Muslim, and your first husband is not (presumably). This is because the authorities in Saudi do not allow a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man. May Allah be with you and bless you always.
February 10, 2018 at 5:07 am |
The way I see it, islam is like the gangster organization Yakuza of Japan. Once you are in, you cannot get out. You live by their laws which favour the leadership.
February 22, 2018 at 12:53 pm |
Salam, Me & my husband was married in catholic ceremony. Our marriage is registered in civil registry. We both converted to Islam but suddenly after 7 years, we began to fell out of love due to our family clan’s problem. He always nag at me because of his problem with my family. We keep yelling on each other and now it’s so hard to bring the love back. He already married another Muslim woman. We’ve been separated for 2 years and I don’t feel I need him in my life anymore. I may not be practicing Islam perfectly but I still pray in Islamic way if i feel it. He said TALAQ on me 3x but he did not file any formal documents to nullify our marriage.Would that mean that our marriage is already void? Kindly clarify.
February 24, 2018 at 1:14 am |
As-salamu ‘alaykum, Hannah. Since you’ve been separated for 2 years & your husband has pronounced talaq, you are divorced according to Islamic tradition. However, legally you are still married due to the Catholic ceremony and civil registration. I advise you to get legal advice in your country: you may need to take the necessary legal steps to end or nullify your marriage, so that you have a clean break from your marriage, legally speaking. Without this, you could face financial claims in the future from your ex-husband, and also complications if you wish to marry someone else. (In most countries, you will not be legally allowed to get married again without a legal divorce or annulment of your previous marriage.) May Allah be with you, was-salam.
February 22, 2018 at 3:23 pm |
Asamalaikum brother/sister i wanna some question and need help.im convert to islam lat year.im married in church year 2013.me and my x husband not together anymore.now i have a muslim boyfriend.can i marry my muslim boy friend even i havent annul my x husband.. thanks for the help…
February 24, 2018 at 1:18 am |
As-salamu ‘alaykum, Nuryn. If you and your husband have agreed to separate and divorce, you are divorced according to Islamic tradition. However, legally you are probably still married due to the church ceremony in 2013. I advise you to get legal advice in your country: you may need to take the necessary legal steps to end or nullify your marriage, so that you have a clean break from your marriage, legally speaking. Without this, you could face financial claims from your ex-husband in the future, and also complications if you wish to marry someone else. (In most countries, you will not be legally allowed to get married again without a legal divorce or annulment of your previous marriage.) May Allah be with you, was-salam.
March 1, 2018 at 1:33 am |
Salamailaikum,
I am writing this with a very heavy heart. I have been married to my wife for 13 years and we have 2 lovely kids whom I adore and who love me unconditionally. My wife was a Hindu and converted to Islam when we married. She practised Islam for a few years after marriage but now says that she does not believe in God any more. She practises no religion.
We have drifted apart from each other and now barely talk to each other but we are respectful of each other and do not fight.
Is it OK for me to stay with her? I want my children to have an islamic upbringing which I want to provide for them and she seems to be ok with it.
Please tell me what I should do. I do not want to stay away from my children.
March 2, 2018 at 5:09 pm |
Assalamu ‘alaykum. I have come across many couples in similar situations. It is certainly fine, Islamically, for you to stay with her, just as the fatwas above show that it would be fine for a Muslim woman to remain married to a non-Muslim husband, especially if she fears an adverse effect on her children. The bottom line is that it is up to the two of you to decide how to proceed with your marriage: Islam does not prescribe a particular course of action. Religious views, like political ones, change over time and differences are not an automatic reason for divorce. So it’s up to the two of you to decide how to take things forward, in the best interests of yourselves and your children. I would advise istikhara prayer, consultation and following your heart. May Allah be with you.
June 16, 2018 at 6:33 am |
Im a married Christian woman and also my husband. We have 2 kids and our relationship is complicated because he cheated me. Not once but 3 times. He always promise me that he will not do it again but still his not change until he use drugs and hurt me physically im not happy to get married because i was force to be married because of my eldest son but me and my husband is cousin my grandfather and his grandfather is 1st cousin they told my parents to break up with him and let support the child. But my mother do not agree. For my 27 years of leaving in the world i am not happy i go in random church but still i dont fill i was one of them. Until i decided to work abroad here in qatar and when i work here i found a man whos islam. I fell in love with him im comfortable being with him. We share our problems. We are so much happy but one day his family call him and they dont like me because im married and im not islam. I told him im willing to convert an islam not because of them because i wanted too and i feel like maybe i find my happiness in islam world. I been reading quran true internet because i still dont understand arabic. Please help me about my problem if im welcome to islam world and i want to divorce my husband but in the philippines we dont allowed there. So maybe i found a small hope here. I want to marry my islam man. Please help this problem thank you so much.
July 29, 2018 at 10:57 pm |
As you said, divorce may not be allowed in Catholic-majority countries like the Philippines. But your marriage may be annulled (faskh) in a Muslim-majority country like Qatar, especially if you convert to Islam. I advise you to seek advice on this from family lawyers or family courts in Qatar. May God bless you.
February 4, 2023 at 9:57 pm
I have a question I’m a christian woman and my husband convert a muslim without my knowledge we have 3 children suddenly my husband didn’t get financial support to our children and they are not calling them i ask some of his co workers and i find out that he have an affair
What are the punishment that i pursue to both of them
And he honored to get another woman infact they are not equally treated us ..??it is possible to honored that kind of manners in muslim ?
September 16, 2023 at 8:59 pm
Sorry to hear about this. He may have married another woman, because according to traditional interpretations of Islam, a man may have up to four wives, although this is banned in some Muslim-majority countries. You will have to refer to your local laws and agencies to see what redress you can obtain.
June 18, 2018 at 1:25 am |
I married my husband in his adopted Muslim name. Is the marriage valid?
July 29, 2018 at 10:58 pm |
The answer would appear to be: Yes, because there appears to no reason why it shouldn’t be. May God bless you.
July 14, 2018 at 4:14 am |
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July 16, 2018 at 6:38 am |
try this
WHAT HAPPENS TO A MARRIAGE IF ONE OF THE COUPLE CONVERTS TO ISLAM? | UNITY
August 26, 2018 at 4:12 pm |
i am christian, sense we don’t have annulment in the philippines,. can i convert balik islam so that i can file annulment, and merry again,.
October 2, 2018 at 3:37 pm |
I am unable to answer that, since I don’t know much about the legal system in the Philippines, especially as it relates to Christian and Muslim marriages, etc. I would advise you to obtain expert advice from people who do know about the law in your country. Thank you
January 10, 2019 at 6:53 am |
What if I’m woman married but I embrace Islamic but before converting I already seperate to him but not divorce we not staying at one house. If I convert can I divorce him? What is the process for it?
January 13, 2019 at 4:36 am |
Please consult the local lawyers or courts in your area about this question. Thank you
January 16, 2019 at 2:16 am
PS in some Muslim-majority countries, an Islamic or civil court might invalidate your first marriage if you convert to Islam, enabling you to marry a Muslim man. But this is not always the case, so you must consult your local lawyers or courts in the country where you live. Or you can simply get a divorce from your first husband, especially since you are separated from him. But in most countries, you will be breaking the law if you are married to two men at the same time. Thank you
April 13, 2019 at 4:55 pm |
Assalaam Alaikum. A Christian couple got separated (not divorced) 2 years ago, and living in separate houses, due to differences and problems in their marriage but did not want to go for legal registered divorce due to children issue. They have arrangement for children to see both parents. Now, the woman got converted to Muslim. Can she do a shariah marriage (simple Nikkah without registration) to a Muslim man? Thanks
May 8, 2019 at 10:02 am |
Hi. My boyfriend at the moment is married by civil. He just recently reverted and now we are planning to get married, me as his second wife under sharia law while he is legally married in another country. Is that possible?
May 19, 2019 at 1:55 am |
Thank you for your comment. This is only possible in countries that recognise bigamy or polygamy, eg under sharia law. I advise you to get legal advice in your country. Thank you
May 9, 2019 at 7:30 am |
I was Hindu, American, married an outcaste in India, then the only office who agreed to register the marriage gave me their original copy of the registration papers, and said that they would deny ever having married us if queried, and that all of the documents are with me. This made it impossible to obtain a divorce after I converted to Islam, and he did not want to, being American and not able to travel back and forth to India for a marriage that doesnt exist, so I am neither married nor divorced. Can I remarry since obtaining a legal divorce is impossible? Jazzak Alahu Khayr
May 19, 2019 at 1:48 am |
As-salamu ‘alaykum. I recommend you get good legal advice in the USA about this. From what you say, you were married but this might be legally impossible to prove, if the register office will not confirm it. Also, have you agreed to divorce or separate from your husband after converting to Islam? A good imam in the USA should be able to help you with your religious requirements. If you would like further advice, please write to me: dr(dot)usama(dot)hasan(at)gmail(dot)com, thank you.
June 14, 2019 at 8:18 pm |
Can i sue my husband begamy? He is a Muslim but im not then we get married to a non Muslim ceremony in Philippines. Can i sue my husband begamy if he gets married again. He is not supporting us ever since im the one who worked for the family and now he is in Philippines and declined to do his obligations to us. Can i dont want to divorce him and im not allowing bim also to get married again.
June 20, 2019 at 2:29 am |
Dear Jasmine, You need advice from a family lawyer in the Philippines. Best wishes!
August 12, 2019 at 4:43 pm |
What if a non muslim woman separated from the husband or they are no more in relationship converts to islam and she wish to marry a muslim man..is it posible for her?
Is their marriage will be valid?thank u
September 7, 2019 at 1:17 am |
Legally, she cannot remarry if she doesn’t have a divorce or annulment …
August 20, 2019 at 10:04 am |
I was converted to islam for 6 months and i am married to non muslim long time and i we are separated already for 4 years can i marry again to my muslim boyfriend? and how? hope someone can help me.. because in the labour they are always asking my divorce paper but i dont have.. please someone help me
August 22, 2019 at 4:29 am |
I really can’t understand if a converted women and separated with her Christian husband can marry with islam men even shes not divorce/annulled..
September 7, 2019 at 1:16 am |
Legally, she cannot remarry if she doesn’t have a divorce or annulment …
October 25, 2019 at 9:22 pm |
this council has no shame Allahu ul musta’an
November 5, 2019 at 10:03 am |
Perhaps you have no shame, wAllahu l-musta’an?
January 5, 2020 at 6:15 pm |
I would like to ask a woman – non muslim who is still married in civil become pregnant by a muslim man who has no knowledge that his gf is not married..wha t advise can you give
January 5, 2020 at 11:29 pm |
I do not understand your question, unless you mean “married” instead of “not married” in the last line. In the latter case, the woman may wish to tell her bf, or arrange to get a civil divorce so that she is no longer married.
February 17, 2020 at 8:56 am |
As-salamu ‘alaykum- i would like to ask your advice regarding of my husband. We married since 8 years. have 1 daughter. i come from muslim family, but my husband come from christian family. He converted to be muslim because he want to get married with me. After married He try to stay in muslim way and me also try to teach him abt the islam. but sometimes he didint accept what im telling him abt muslim. He learn from what he see what muslim people do. but he didnt want to accpet what i have try to correct him. he still follow what church people do.. and his mum also ask him do what the cristians do. Like always meet pastor, fasting like christians do, he pray used muslim way but read bible. i have try to talk and discuss with him. but he keep telling me that what islam teach is same like christian teach. he didnt want to accept what i telling him. even i ask him to not said like that before he meet someone like iman or ustaz that can teach him abt it. but he d want to accept it. im so sad and dont know what to do. i have 1 daughter. i have send my daughter to islamic international school. I worried abt my husband. i dont know what should i do. i only can always pray and make doa to Allah to open his heart 1 day. im scared if my daughter will confuse abt it. really need your suggestion and oppinion regarding this imam. tq so much.
May 6, 2020 at 6:55 pm |
wa ‘alaykum as-salam. Thank you for asking, and apologies for the delay in replying. I advise continuing to look for imams, ustaz/ustazas etc. who can help you closely. Try to talk about all these issues with your husband in a gentle, loving way. It is true that Islam and Christianity have much in common. Keep praying to Allah to guide you, your husband and your daughter always to say and do what is good and true, and to find the ways of God. You may also be interested in two articles elsewhere on this blog: Muslim Jesuits (Muslims who also follow Jesus Christ), and “Muhammad and Christ.” May God bless you, your husband and your daughter and all your families and loved ones, always. Amin.
June 22, 2020 at 7:31 pm |
Assalamualaykum
I want to ask about my situation rn…I’ve been married before when I was catholic,then after 2years of marriage we got separated but not legal separation then the year of 2016 I’ve converted in Islam,my question is do I need to be annulled or divorce before I can will marry Muslim?
August 14, 2020 at 7:01 am |
wa ‘alaykum as-salam. Apologies for the delay in replying. As far as I know, according to the laws of all countries, you will need a legal annulment or divorce to end your previous marriage before you can have a legal marriage to a Muslim man. May Allah be with you.
August 29, 2020 at 5:39 pm |
Assalamualaykum
I want to ask about the situation of my friend.. She had a boyfriend who ha converted in Islam but because of tradition, the family of woman still dont want to allow their daughter to marry a converted man..
Can i ask if it is right to fight for their relationship since the man had already embraced Islam?
September 7, 2020 at 1:48 pm |
wa ‘alaykum as-salam. The couple should marry if they wish to: there is no doubt that such a marriage is fine according to Islamic rules. Your friend’s family should not object to the marriage because he is a convert. I recommend finding a good local imam who will support the couple in their wish to get married according to local laws as well as Islamic traditions.
September 17, 2020 at 4:23 pm |
Asslamu alaikum,,i just wanna asking what i need to do.. i am married in christian man,,now we r separated coming 5years.. i work households in saudi and accept ISLAM,,i already convert to Islam more the 3years,,now my X-husband against me bcoz i converted to Islam.. so now i decided to remove his family name from my name especially my documents ,,.. If ever i can file a divorce from shariah law to divorce him,,,it will be accepted if i file a divorce from Islamic law to my christian X husband … thanks u,,hope u reply me… bcoz its hard to take annulment ..
October 18, 2020 at 1:07 am |
wa ‘alaykum as-salam. I advise you to approach an Islamic (Sharia) court to obtain a divorce from your Christian husband, if that is what you would like to obtain.
October 1, 2020 at 9:06 am |
SALAM ALAYKUM,,we are converted muslims with my husband and have 1 daughter already….we are married but there’s no ceremony from any of the ustadz before i concieved my child..do ou marriage haram or halal…..please advice me what to do….thank you
October 18, 2020 at 1:05 am |
wa ‘alaykum as-salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. If I understand you correctly, you were married before you converted. This means that your marriage is halal. If in doubt, ask an imam to do a nikah ceremony for you: this will give your marriage an Islamic blessing.
October 13, 2020 at 6:13 pm |
Ok I been married to my husband for over 14 years now. We got married front of a judge and we was christian . We have 5 kids 2gether. So he now converted to Muslim about a month ago and now he trying to marry his gf 1st because she already converted and I didnt and he said in the muslim community our marriage is not real. What does that mean and happens now ? What should I do? I’m sorry no disrespect I just dont know all of the Muslim way… just need help and advice! Thank u in advance.
October 18, 2020 at 1:02 am |
Please get legal advice in your area. If you married in front of a judge, you have a legal marriage. If your husband no longer wishes to stay with you, you might be able to ask for divorce and for him to give you your legal rights (including wealth etc.).
October 23, 2020 at 1:53 pm |
Salamualaikum,
These fatwas covers the situation of married people when one of them converting to Islam. In our small muslim community in Mexico, where the conversion rate is high, we have a frequent situation where a girl converts to Islam while she is living with her boyfriend (not husband). And it is difficult and some times impractical for them to leave the house and relationship with their boyfriends and these new sisters continues to be in these situation for up to an year sometimes. how you see this situation and what you would suggest us on how to treat these cases.
can a Muslim man propose them for marriage while they are in illegal\haram relationships and not ready to leave it until “suitable” opportunity is found?
November 10, 2020 at 11:23 pm |
wa ‘alaykum as-salam. A bf/gf living together, with at least two people knowing about it, is equivalent to a nikah so in that sense it’s a halal arrangement. Therefore, the original fatwas still apply. As for Muslim men proposing to such women, this should only be done if the latter leave their bf’s. wAllahu a’lam.
October 24, 2020 at 11:56 am |
Hi. We are a very happy family. Me and My husband are born Hindus but 1.5year back my husband reverted to Islam and he follows it very well and with his wish I accepted my daughter too to revert back to Islam and till that every thing was going good. From past 3 months there were many disturbances coming in between us only because of the religion and it’s discussions. I try to keep peace in the family because I love my husband and the family first rather than the religion. He does namaz and being a pure vegetarian I cook non-veg food for him and watch the islam related videos too only for him but now he started convincing me to revet to islam that because of me he is not having peace as he cannot change his and my daughter name Muslim name and also cannot go to Haj. The day he asked me for my opinion for him to revert to islam I told him—- your life your wish but dont bring those to me because my upbringing is different and my way of prayers is different. He too agreed and after 1.5yrs its not the same. I do not understand what to do. Do I do not have a own life and only live for others and for the society ? My husband now asked me to stop doing pooja/prayers for the festivals and I feel like i’m alive only to serve this family as a servant and do the needs of the family ? I’m a damn HUMAN and I have a soul and I have a life and why does a WOMAN always follow husbands words? My husband is very good person and there is no doubt in that but at the end afterall he is a husband nothing more than that. Please suggest me what to do and how to handle these situations.
November 10, 2020 at 11:12 pm |
Hello: you may find this article, and others like it at the same website, helpful: https://www.newageislam.com/interfaith-dialogue/love-is-the-best-resistance-to-hate–let-us-disperse-the-joy-of-plurality/d/123416
November 11, 2020 at 12:28 am
PS your husband cannot force you to convert to Islam, since a forced conversion is not valid. Allah says in the Qur’an, “There is no compulsion in religion.” If you do not convert to Islam, you will not be able to go to Mecca for the Hajj, but your husband and daughter will be able to do so, since they are Muslims. May God bless you and your family.
November 18, 2020 at 11:15 pm |
I’m converted to Islam..then i was married before in christian until we got broke up by verbal..and now im muslimah..so is my marriage in christian before is still valid?
January 28, 2021 at 2:11 am |
As-salamu ‘alaykum. Sorry for the delay in replying. The answer to your question depends entirely on the law of the country where you were married. If you were married legally, then that probably remains the case & you will need to obtain a legal divorce if you no longer wish to continue with that marriage.
However, as the fatwas above show, you are not obliged to end your previous marriage & in fact, you have every right to continue with it if you wish.
May Allah bless you & your family, was-salam.
December 8, 2020 at 6:56 am |
good day may i ask? what if a Christian wife converted to Islam, is her marriage still valid in her Christian husband? or is it being null and void by the change of religion? thank you!
January 28, 2021 at 2:14 am |
As the fatwas above show, her marriage is still valid.
Also, the answer to your question depends entirely on the law of the country where she was married. If she was married legally, then that probably remains the case & she will need to obtain a legal divorce if she no longer wishes to continue with that marriage.
However, as the fatwas above show, she is not obliged to end her previous marriage & in fact, she has every right to continue with it if she wishes.
January 3, 2021 at 2:53 pm |
@Usama Hasan. Thanks and that’s so over whelming to hear a positive reply from your end. I was really scared what kind of reply I would get so I didnt even dared to open but brought my courage to read a reply from you.
I have few queries and I hope to receive a reply for those as well.
For going to Umrah my husband and daughter can visit after they change their name officially through Awqaf and there is no rule that entire family has to be converted and only then they are allowed to visit umrah.
I tried to contact Kalemah team and Awqaf but my bad no one answers the call or online chat getting connected.
Is there a way where I can contact any department where I can have more details please.
It would be great if you could help me on this.
Thanks
Roopa
January 28, 2021 at 2:26 am |
Dear Roopa,
Thank you for your kind words.
The Saudi authorities will not allow any non-Muslims to go for Umrah. Therefore, my recommendation:
You or your daughter, and anyone who wishes to go for Umrah, should contact an established Islamic center in UAE or India etc. & say the Kalimah (Shahada) & get a “conversion to Islam” certificate. With this, you will be able to go for Umrah.
Also, you will remain “Hindu” in origin since the word “Hindu” simply means, “Indian.”
The Indian Muslim scholar Maulana Mahmood Asad introduces the discussion thus, “The pertinent question is: Can Indian citizens co-exist with each other despite their cultural and religious diversity? Can Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians and others live together amicably as one nation?”
He goes on to say,
“The patriotism of Indian Muslims is being questioned today. Those who question Muslims’ love for this country call themselves ‘Hindu’ and shout slogans such as Garv se Kaho Hum Hindu hain [“Say with pride: we are Hindus”], without understanding that the term ‘Hindu’ is not the appellation of followers of any religion. It is a geographical definition of a people residing in a territorial region, i.e. India.111 By virtue of this definition, all people residing within the geographical territory of India, whether they are descendants of Aryans or Dravidians or Mongols or Arabs or Anglo-Saxons, are Hindus.”
January 23, 2021 at 4:45 am |
As Salam Aleikum,
I just have to summon courage to write this.
My marriage is 4 years+ now, Alhamdulillah I am blessed with two boys. My trouble is that the father of my two boys is a catholic though he has a Muslim background (he is the first born and their dad died at tender age, their dad married their mom as a Christian but she doesn’t convert) unfortunately, the father died when my husband was just 11years. Now him and all other siblings are Christian but all have Islamic name.
This has been my headache for a long time, sometimes I cried to Allah to touch his mind to see the light of Islam because I’m scared my children don’t follow his way. Though, this man is a very good man that women will pray to have but whenever I remember is not a Muslim I feel so sad in my heart. Upon all threats and troubles from his family to make him convert me to Christian, he always tell them he will never do so because he has promised nothing will make him do so…. which is through, he never mentioned or tell me not to practice my religion, most of the times he take me to mosque on fridays for jumah and wait for till I finish praying then take me back home. But my fear is for my kids not to follow his foot step…. I have tried to preach to him but he’s refusing.My question now is if it’s ok for me to stay in the marriage or divorce him, I’m an African woman, I’m afraid if I asked for divorce, I might not be granted with my two boys due to our culture that says men owns child. Though both of us are not together for now because I’m studying in abroad(with my two years old son) while the four years old boy stays with him back home.. they do come on visit during the holiday. NOTE: their dad married 3 wives, my husband mum was a Christian when married to his dad up till date, their dad is late.
Thank you
January 28, 2021 at 2:08 am |
As-salamu ‘alaykum. Thank you for writing to me. To answer your question:
“My question now is if it’s ok for me to stay in the marriage or divorce him ?”
According to the reasoning of the above fatwa, it is perfectly ok (halal & probably wajib) for you to stay in the marriage, for the good of you both & your children.
In short: your marriage is halal. May Allah bless you & your family, was-salam.
February 6, 2021 at 3:52 pm |
My husband was married to a non muslim woman but they are already separated before he converted to islam and then we met each other and got married is it our marriage is valid?
February 6, 2021 at 5:37 pm |
If your marriage is nikah-only (i.e. not legally registered), it is valid, although it may well be better to have it legally registered. Depending on the laws of the country you live in, your husband may well need to secure a legal divorce (i.e. not just separation) from his previous wife.
If your marriage is legally-registered, then I assume that any legal issues arising from his previous marriage have already been addressed? Thank you.
March 16, 2021 at 11:35 am |
Good day!
Im shiela 29 years old , living in Dubai ,i wanted to asked in my case.Before i am christian and married,but after 2yrs decided to convert in Islam.Im separated to my husband 6 yrs ago and now i have a relationship with a Muslim from Pakistan.I want to ask if we can get married here
March 26, 2021 at 11:27 pm |
As-salamu ‘alaykum, Shiela. From what you say, you would need to obtain a legal divorce from your previous husband before marrying your new fiance. This should be relatively easy, given that you’ve been separated from your previous husband for 6 years now. The authorities in Dubai will be able to help you get divorced & remarried. May Allah make everything easy for you, was-salam.
January 9, 2022 at 6:24 pm |
If a Muslim man convert to Christianity will lost guardianship for his two son?
January 11, 2022 at 2:58 am |
Dear Mohammad,
The answer to your question depends on the local laws in the country. From Sharia, guardianship should belong jointly to the parents, or in such a way that the children’s best interests are preserved.
September 29, 2022 at 2:56 am |
If a Muslim man married to a convert from Christianity to Islam and after 12 years of marriage with three kids reverted back to Christianity is his marriage still valid
October 6, 2022 at 7:00 pm |
Since a Muslim man is explicitly allowed by the Qur’an (Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:5) to be married to a Christian woman, it is fine for him to remain married to her. He is not required to divorce her at all.
September 29, 2022 at 5:49 am |
My wife after converting to Islam we married and now have 3 kids after twelve years she reverted to Christianity is our marriage still valid
October 6, 2022 at 6:59 pm |
Since a Muslim man is explicitly allowed by the Qur’an (Surah al-Ma’idah, 5:5) to be married to a Christian woman, it is fine for you to remain married to her. You are not required to divorce her at all.
October 1, 2022 at 8:09 pm |
What happens if husband convert to islam after many years of marriage and wife remains hindu will his marriage continue or break
October 6, 2022 at 7:02 pm |
Salam. The marriage will continue, since there is no reason for it to break. And Allah knows best.
February 10, 2023 at 2:31 am |
I am in the same case, I was divorce and we were married under civil law. My husband converted to Islam. And he ask me to divorce under Shariah law. I was hesitant at first but because i feel like our married is falling apart I agreed. I am now happily married and I am just thankful with our Shariah lawyer from the Philippines who help us. She is very accomodating. Im giving her contact because i feel how hard it is to be in the marriage life that you are no longer happy. This way I can help. Her whatsapp is 0..9…7 .7.2.0…3 ..5.7.3.0. I hope for everyone to be happy too. My lawyers name is Miss Mina Ambutong
February 14, 2023 at 4:20 am |
Hello
I am married to a Muslim woman for 13 years and I am non-Muslim. When we got married in Australia (I am Australian) I was not aware of the requirement for both husband and wife to be Muslim for the marriage to be accepted. I didn’t really care about these things and was just glad I found someone who had good values and was a non-drinker like I am. I am more aware of these things now.
I don’t follow a particular faith but I believe in God and support my wife’s religion and practices, including joining them for Ramadan etc. Our 2 children are also being raised as Muslim. My wife has communicated this to me over the last few years that she expects me to convert and that if I don’t she will go to Hell. This has been increasingly worrying to her in recent years and it has caused me great anxiety and discomfort for her to feel this way and for our marriage to be unstable.
She has recently stopped sleeping in the same bed as me and we are effectively separated in the same house.
I have spoken to Muslim friends and sought advice online about my situation. The responses vary a lot so it sometimes adds to the confusion. I feel that if I convert to Islam for her sake it’s not genuine and therefore why do it? She seems to be ok with breaking up the family over this issue. I see many different views on this forum but was hoping for a response that have help me as I really don’t want to go down the divorce path for no proper reason.
September 16, 2023 at 8:57 pm |
As implied by the article, the two of you should be fine to stay together, happily married.
February 15, 2023 at 12:27 pm |
I converted to a Muslim last year and i have a problem somewhere in marriage,, when I became a Muslim there was a family that took me and they are feeding me now as their child and long time when I was a Christian i fall in love with a girl from that family so am asking that can I marry her or it is Haram
September 16, 2023 at 8:56 pm |
A Muslim man may marry a Christian woman according to the Qur’an, Surah al-Ma’idah (The Last Supper, 5:5)
June 3, 2023 at 5:13 am |
I was raised as Roman Catholic, but came to Islam in my late 20’s. In my 30’s I lost my deen for a number of years. During this time I entered a haram relationship with a man who was raised with no religion, but believes in God. We never even married. This man was widowed and came with a baby daughter. I have raised this daughter for 8 years, and we also had a child together. The past few months I’ve started coming back to Islam. I know I’ve made many errors. This man doesn’t stop me from practicing my religion or raising our children to believe in one God. This man will not become a Muslim just to marry me. Would a civil marriage be acceptable under these circumstances? Or am I forced to break up my family and repent?
September 16, 2023 at 8:55 pm |
As implied by the article, it would be fine for you to have a civil marriage with this man. May Allah bless you all.