Can a Christian and a Muslim Marry?

Qur’an 5:5, in Saheeh International, says chaste women from those given the Scripture are lawful in marriage when the man has given them their due compensation. Qur’an 2:221 says not to marry polytheistic women until they believe, and not to marry polytheistic men to believing women. Qur’an 60:10 says believing women who come as emigrants are not lawful wives for the disbelievers, and the disbelievers are not lawful husbands for them. 2 Corinthians 6:142 Corinthians 6:14 · King James VersionBe ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?2 Corinthians 6:14 · King James VersionOpen source tells Christians not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers.

What Is the Difference Between Islam and Christianity? is the disagreement those marriage rules sit inside. Jesus is God in the Christian confession. The Qur’an says God has no son.

Key Points

• Qur’an 5:5Qur’an 5:5 · Saheeh InternationalThis day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.Qur’an 5:5 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source permits food of the People of the Scripture and marriage to chaste women from among them, when the compensation is given and the aim is chastity. (1)
• Qur’an 2:221Qur’an 2:221 · Saheeh InternationalAnd do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allāh invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that perhaps they may remember.Qur’an 2:221 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says not to marry polytheistic women until they believe, and not to give believing women in marriage to polytheistic men until those men believe. (1)
• Qur’an 60:10Qur’an 60:10 · Saheeh InternationalO you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine [i.e., test] them. Allāh is most knowing as to their faith. And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them. But give them [i.e., the disbelievers] what they have spent. And there is no blame upon you if you marry them when you have given them their due compensation [i.e., mahr]. And hold not to marriage bonds with disbelieving women, but ask for what you have spent and let them [i.e., the disbelievers] ask for what they have spent. That is the judgement of Allāh; He judges between you. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.Qur’an 60:10 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says believing emigrant women are not lawful for disbelieving husbands, and those men are not lawful husbands for them. (1)
• Ibn Kathir’s commentary on 5:5 reports that Ibn Umar advised against marrying Christian women, and that Ibn Abbas said people married women from the People of the Book when 5:5 was revealed. (2)
• Qur’an 5:5 names chaste women from the People of the Scripture. It does not say a Muslim woman may marry a Christian man.
• 2 Corinthians 6:142 Corinthians 6:14 · King James VersionBe ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?2 Corinthians 6:14 · King James VersionOpen source says not to be unequally yoked with unbelievers. 1 Corinthians 7:121 Corinthians 7:12 · King James VersionBut to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.1 Corinthians 7:12 · King James VersionOpen source tells a brother whose wife is willing to stay not to send her away. (3) (4)

Is It Halal for a Muslim to Marry a Christian?

Qur’an 5:5 is the verse that names the People of the Scripture in a marriage law. Saheeh International:

This day [all] good foods have been made lawful, and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers. And whoever denies the faith - his work has become worthless, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.

Qur’an 5:5 · Saheeh International

(1) The women named are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those given the Scripture before. The verse sets a condition: the compensation is given, and the aim is chastity. It speaks of marrying those women. It does not say a Muslim woman may marry a man from the People of the Scripture.

Qur’an 2:221Qur’an 2:221 · Saheeh InternationalAnd do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allāh invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that perhaps they may remember.Qur’an 2:221 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source is the earlier ban. It says not to marry polytheistic women until they believe, and not to marry polytheistic men to believing women until they believe, and that a believing slave is better than a polytheist. (1) The two verses use different words. One says polytheists. The other says people given the Scripture. Readers have treated 5:5 as the narrower permission. That reading is what Ibn Kathir records, in the next section.

Can a Muslim Woman Marry a Christian Man?

Qur’an 60:10 addresses believing women and disbelieving husbands. Saheeh International, Qur’an 60:10Qur’an 60:10 · Saheeh InternationalO you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine [i.e., test] them. Allāh is most knowing as to their faith. And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them. But give them [i.e., the disbelievers] what they have spent. And there is no blame upon you if you marry them when you have given them their due compensation [i.e., mahr]. And hold not to marriage bonds with disbelieving women, but ask for what you have spent and let them [i.e., the disbelievers] ask for what they have spent. That is the judgement of Allāh; He judges between you. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.Qur’an 60:10 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source:

O you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine [i.e., test] them. Allāh is most knowing as to their faith. And if you know them to be believers, then do not return them to the disbelievers; they are not lawful [wives] for them, nor are they lawful [husbands] for them. But give them [i.e., the disbelievers] what they have spent. And there is no blame upon you if you marry them when you have given them their due compensation [i.e., mahr]. And hold not to marriage bonds with disbelieving women, but ask for what you have spent and let them [i.e., the disbelievers] ask for what they have spent. That is the judgement of Allāh; He judges between you. And Allāh is Knowing and Wise.

Qur’an 60:10 · Saheeh International

Qur’an · accepted by Muslims

(1) Believing women are not lawful wives for the disbelievers, and the disbelievers are not lawful husbands for them. The verse then says there is no blame in marrying those believing women once the compensation is given. The husband in that sentence is on the believing side of the command. Qur’an 2:221Qur’an 2:221 · Saheeh InternationalAnd do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allāh invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses [i.e., ordinances] to the people that perhaps they may remember.Qur’an 2:221 · Saheeh InternationalOpen source says not to marry polytheistic men to believing women until the men believe. (1)

Qur’an 5:5’s permission is worded for chaste women from the People of the Scripture, not for Christian men. A page that says the Qur’an allows a Muslim woman to marry a Christian man is not quoting these three verses.

What Ibn Kathir Reports

Ibn Kathir’s commentary on Qur’an 5:5, as published on QuranX, reports a disagreement among early Muslims. Abdullah ibn Umar advised against marrying Christian women. On that pageTafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur’an 5:5 · English, QuranXI do not know of a worse case of Shirk than her saying that 'Isa is her lordTafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur’an 5:5 · English, QuranXOpen source:

I do not know of a worse case of Shirk than her saying that ’Isa is her lord

that page · English, QuranX

(2) The commentary sets that sentence beside Qur’an 2:221. The same page reports Ibn Abbas: when Qur’an 2:221 was revealed, people did not marry pagan women, and when the verse about chaste women from those given the Scripture was revealed, they married women from the People of the Book. It says some of the Companions married Christian women and did not see any problem in this, and that they made Qur’an 5:5 an exception to Qur’an 2:221. (2) The commentary does not print a single sentence that every school signed. It prints Ibn Umar’s warning and the Companions’ practice side by side.

The permission those Companions used is marriage to Christian women. It is not marriage of a Muslim woman to a Christian man.

What Does the Bible Say?

Paul writes to a church in Corinth about a shared life with someone who does not share the confession. 2 Corinthians 6:142 Corinthians 6:14 · King James VersionBe ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?2 Corinthians 6:14 · King James VersionOpen source:

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14 · King James Version

(3) The verse is about a yoke, a paired life, with unbelievers. A Muslim confesses that God has no son and that Jesus was not crucified. A Christian confesses that Jesus is God and that he was crucified and raised. Jesus in the Qur’an and the Gospels quotes both. That is the unequal yoke the verse names: two confessions of who God is.

1 Corinthians 7:121 Corinthians 7:12 · King James VersionBut to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.1 Corinthians 7:12 · King James VersionOpen source is a different case. Paul says he is speaking, not the Lord, and that if a brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is pleased to dwell with him, he should not put her away. (4) The sentence is about a marriage already in the house. It is not a command to begin one. 1 Corinthians 7:12–161 Corinthians 7:12–16 · King James Version^7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. ^7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. ^7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. ^7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. ^7:16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?1 Corinthians 7:12–16 · King James VersionOpen source is the rest of that paragraph.

Is Islam Compatible With Christianity?

The marriage verses do not close the gap between the two confessions. The Qur’an calls Jesus the Messiah, born of Mary, and says he was not crucified. The Gospels tell a public crucifixion, a burial, and a risen Jesus whom Thomas calls Lord and God. What Is the Difference Between Islam and Christianity? and Was Jesus a Muslim? stay on those claims. A household can contain both books. The books do not say the same thing about Jesus.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can a Christian and a Muslim Get Married?

The texts above are the rules each community prints. Qur’an 5:5, 2:221, and 60:10 are the Islamic lines. 2 Corinthians 6:142 Corinthians 6:14 · King James VersionBe ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?2 Corinthians 6:14 · King James VersionOpen source and 1 Corinthians 7:121 Corinthians 7:12 · King James VersionBut to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.1 Corinthians 7:12 · King James VersionOpen source are the biblical lines. This page does not describe a ceremony.

What Happens When a Christian Marries a Muslim?

1 Corinthians 7:121 Corinthians 7:12 · King James VersionBut to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.1 Corinthians 7:12 · King James VersionOpen source addresses a marriage already underway, when the spouse who does not believe is willing to stay. 2 Corinthians 6:142 Corinthians 6:14 · King James VersionBe ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?2 Corinthians 6:14 · King James VersionOpen source addresses a new shared life with an unbeliever. The Qur’an verses address who may be married and who may not.

Do These Verses Address a Wedding Night or Same-Sex Marriage?

Qur’an 2:221, 5:5, and 60:10, and 2 Corinthians 6:14, do not describe a wedding night, and they do not address marriage between two men or two women. What Does the Bible Say About Homosexuality? is that question in the churches’ own words.

Keep Reading

• What Is the Difference Between Islam and Christianity?
• Jesus in the Qur’an and the Gospels
• Who Is Allah?
• Do Muslims and Christians Worship the Same God?
• Was Jesus a Muslim?
• What Does the Bible Say About Salvation?
• The Trinity