Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (12/145)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

among people. Praise be to Allah, this is good etiquette. So we say: Do not make it audible, and do not laugh.

“A disbeliever may not marry a Muslim woman, nor may a Muslim man—even if he is a slave—marry a disbelieving woman, except for a free woman from the People of the Scripture, …”

His statement, “A disbeliever may not marry a Muslim woman”: this applies to a disbeliever of whatever kind—whether he is a Jew, a Christian, an idolater, or a communist. It is not lawful for him to marry a Muslim woman, even if she is immoral. The evidence is Allah’s saying:

“Do not marry your women to polytheist men until they believe.” [Al-Baqarah 2:221]

That is, do not give Muslim women in marriage to polytheist men until they believe. And Allah says:

“They are not lawful wives for them, nor are they lawful husbands for them.” [Al-Mumtahanah 60:10]

If the continuation of a disbeliever’s marriage to a believing woman is prohibited, then initiating such a marriage is even more clearly prohibited. As for the rational evidence, a Muslim woman cannot be under the authority of a disbelieving husband, for the husband is the master. Allah says:

“They both found her master at the door.” [Yusuf 12:25]

And the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Fear Allah regarding women, for they are captives in your care.” (1) That is, like prisoners.

Is the one who abandons the prayer a disbeliever or not? The disagreement concerning this is well known. The correct view is that he is a disbeliever; therefore, he may not be married to a Muslim woman. If a Muslim woman is given to him in marriage, then the marriage of a disbeliever to a Muslim woman is invalid by the consensus of the Muslims.

His statement, “Nor may a Muslim man—even if he is a slave—marry a disbelieving woman”: a Muslim man may not marry a disbelieving woman, even if he is a slave. The evidence is Allah’s saying:

“Do not marry polytheist women until they believe.” [Al-Baqarah 2:221]

(1) Reported by al-Tirmidhi in The Book of Suckling, chapter: “What Has Been Related Concerning a Woman’s Rights over Her Husband” (1163), and by Ibn Majah in The Book of Marriage, chapter: “A Woman’s Rights over Her Husband” (1851), on the authority of Amr ibn al-Ahwas. Al-Tirmidhi said: “It is a sound, authentic hadith.”

بين الناس، والحمد لله هذا أدب طيب، فنقول: لا تظهر، ولا تضحك. وَلَا يَنْكِحُ كَافِرٌ مُسْلِمَةً، وَلَا مُسْلِمٌ وَلَوْ عَبْداً كَافِرَةً إِلاَّ حُرَّةً كِتَابِيَّةً، ......... قوله: «ولا ينكح كافرُ مسلمة»، الكافر بأي نوع كان كفره، سواء كان يهودياً أم نصرانياً أم وثنياً أم شيوعياً، فإنه لا يحل أن يتزوج مسلمة، ولو كانت فاسقة، والدليل قوله تعالى: ﴿وَلَا تُنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنُوا﴾ [البقرة: ٢٢١] أي: لا تزوجوا المشركين حتى يؤمنوا، وقوله تعالى: ﴿لَا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّ﴾ [الممتحنة؛ ١٠]، فإذا منع من استدامة عقد الكافر على المؤمنة فابتداؤه من باب أولى، أما الدليل من النظر فلأنه لا يمكن أن تكون المسلمة تحت زوج كافر، والزوج سيد، قال الله تعالى: ﴿وَأَلْفَيَا سَيِّدَهَا لَدَى الْبَابِ﴾ [يوسف: ٢٥]، وقال رسول الله ﷺ: «اتقوا الله في النساء فإنهن عوان عندكم» (١)، أي: أسرى. وهل تارك الصلاة كافر أو لا؟ الخلاف في هذا معروف، والصواب أنه كافر فلا يجوز أن يزوج بمسلمة، فإن عقد له على مسلمة، فإن نكاح الكافر بالمسلمة باطل بإجماع المسلمين. قوله: «ولا مسلمٌ ولو عبداً كافرةً»، المسلم لا ينكح الكافرة ولو كان عبداً، والدليل قوله تعالى: ﴿وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّ﴾ [البقرة: ٢٢١].

(١) أخرجه الترمذي في الرضاع/ باب ما جاء في حق المرأة على زوجها (١١٦٣) وابن ماجه في النكاح/ باب حق المرأة على الزوج (١٨٥١) عن عمرو بن الأحوص ﵁، وقال الترمذي: حديث حسن صحيح.