If the husband of a woman who is neither Jewish nor Christian accepts Islam before the marriage has been consummated, the union is void, for Allah says, “And do not hold fast to the marriage bonds of disbelieving women” (Q 60:10). In that event he must pay her half of the dowry, because the separation originated from his side.

If one of two non-People-of-the-Book spouses, or a non-Muslim woman married to a non-Muslim man, embraces Islam after consummation, the matter remains in suspense until her waiting period ends. Should the other spouse accept Islam during that period, the marriage continues; if not, it is deemed to have been annulled from the moment the first partner embraced Islam.

A man who becomes Muslim while he has more than four wives who also accept Islam—or who are already People-of-the-Book—must select four of them and release the rest. Qays ibn al-Harith embraced Islam while he had eight wives, and the Prophet ﷺ told him, “Choose four of them,” an instruction he likewise gave to others. Allah knows best.