He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was also asked: (*)

Concerning the words of Allah Most High, “Do not marry polytheistic women”: scholars have permitted marriage to Christian and Jewish women. Are these women included among the polytheists or not?

He answered:

All praise is due to Allah.

Marriage to a woman from the People of the Book is permissible on the basis of the verse in Sūrat al-Mā’idah. Allah Most High says:

“The food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them, as are chaste believing women and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you.”

This is the position of the overwhelming majority of earlier and later scholars, including the four imams and others.

It is reported that Ibn ‘Umar disapproved of marrying a Christian woman, saying: “I know of no greater association of partners with Allah than that of a woman who says that her Lord is Jesus son of Mary.”

Today, this is the position of a group among the proponents of religious innovation. They have cited as evidence the verse in Sūrat al-Baqarah and His words:

“Do not hold on to marriage bonds with unbelieving women.”

The verse in al-Baqarah may be answered in three ways:

First: the People of the Book are not included among the polytheists. They are treated as distinct from the polytheists, as evidenced by His words:

“Indeed, those who believe, the Jews, the Sabians, the Christians, the Magians, and those who associate partners with Allah.”