Chapter: Marrying Women of the People of the Book and other unbelievers

A Muslim man may not marry a polytheist woman—whether she is an idol-worshipper or not—nor a Magian. Intercourse with any of these women is forbidden, whether by means of marriage or by right of ownership. He is, however, permitted to marry a Jewish or Christian woman and may marry no others among the protected non-Muslims (ahl al-dhimma). A man may also arrange for his Jewish male slave to marry a Jewish or Christian woman, and for his Christian male slave to marry a Christian or Jewish woman.

Marriage to an apostate woman is invalid, and neither a free Muslim nor a Muslim slave may marry a female slave from the People of the Book. If one of the spouses apostasises, or if both do so, the marriage contract is annulled—whether before or after consummation—and is not suspended awaiting their joint return to Islam during the waiting period (ʿidda). Should an apostate man or woman enter into a new marriage while still in apostasy, that contract is void without the need for a formal divorce. Scholars have differed over the dissolution of the apostate’s prior marriage, but the sound position is that it is an annulment, not a divorce.