Part 25

“The Arab Christians’ slaughtering may not be eaten, because they do not hold to (true) Christianity — besides drinking alcohol.” *

On the other hand, ‘Umar (4%) was asked whether it was lawful to eat from the slaughtered meat of a group of Jews who read the Torah and observed the Sabbath but do not believe in resurrection. He said:

“They are a group from the People of the Book.” *

Tbn ‘Abbas (ts) said:

“Eat from the slaughtering of the Taghlib * and marry from their women.” *

2. Recorded by “Abd ur-Razzak and al-Bayhaqi. Verified to be authentic by Mustafa al“Adawi (Jami‘u Ahkam in-Nis@ 3:125).

3 Recorded by ‘Abd ur-Razzak and al-Bayhaqi. Verified to be authentic by Mustafa al-‘Adawi (Jami'u Ahkam in-Nis@ 3:126). An Arab Christian tribe.

5 Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah. Verified to be authentic by Mustafa al-‘Adawi (Jami'u Ahkam in-Nis@ 3:126).

Quest for Love & Mercy 161 Forbidden Marriages

Az-Zuhri (#88) was asked about the slaughtering of the Arab Christians, He replied that it was lawful, and said:

“Whoever embraces a religion is considered one of its people.” !

Ash-Sha’bi (#8) said in answer to a similar question:

“Allah has made their slaughtering lawful, and your Lord is never forgetful.” 2

There are many other similar authentic reports from the salaf considering that the Christians and Jews are from “the People of the Book” regardless of their beliefs. This appears to be the stronger of the two opinions. *

The condition of “chastity” does not usually hold in our time. A chaste woman is one who has been preserved within her house like a jewel, never having been involved in kissing, touching, petting, or any form of promiscuous relationships with men other than her husband.

A non-Muslim woman has no faith that would prevent her from committing the sin. Added to that is today’s open Western culture that has permitted zind with the approval and encouragement of the parents and relatives. It is seldom to find a girl pass her teenage years without being involved in sexual relationships. Virginity is now a rarity among the Westerners.

Some people may ask, “What if a Christian woman repented from her former promiscuous behavior? Would it then be permissible to marry her?” The answer is that repentance is an act of worship specific to the Muslims. Its first condition is ikhlas (sincerity) to Allah. How

1 Recorded by ‘Abd ur-Razzik. Verified to be authentic by Mustafa al-“Adawr (Jami'u Ahkam in-Nis@ 3:127).

2 Recorded by ‘Abd ur-Razzak. Verified to be authentic by Mustafa al-‘Adawi (Jami'u Ahkam in-Nis@ 3:127).

3 Review Jami‘u Ahkam in-Nisa@ 3:122-128.

could a non-Muslim fulfill this? Her only repentance, then, is by embracing Islam (for the sake of Allah, and not for marriage).

Even at the peak of the Islamic power and dominance, ‘Umar (46) was against marrying from the People of the Book. Abii Wail reported. that Huthayfah (@) married a Jewish woman. ‘Umar (4) wrote to him, “Divorce her.” He wrote back, “If this is unlawful, I will divorce her.” ‘Umar (4) wrote:

“{ do not claim that it is unlawful, but I fear that you (Muslims) will soon partake of their whores (if everyone takes this matter lightly).” '

Jabir (4%) was asked about marrying Jewish and Christian women. He replied:

“We used to marry them during the times of fighting when we were with Sa‘d Bin Abi Waqqas in al-Kiifah. That was because we could then hardly find any Muslim women, But when we came back (from. the fights), we divorced them, ?

In our times, the Muslims are weak and have the lower hand, even in their own countries. If one marries a non-Muslim woman, he will not be able to enforce an Islamic environment in his own house. He will see her wear the cross, pray to Jesus, eat pork, and raise his children upon disbelief. This, by itself, is a major act of disobedience that he would bring about for himself and his own offspring. What sin is greater than this sin? This alone is a sufficient reason for the prohibition of such marriages under the current circumstances.

1 Recorded by al-Bayhaqi and Said Bin Mansur. Verified to be authentic by Mustafa al-“Adawi (Jami‘u Akam in-Nisa’ 3:122).

2 Recorded by ash-Shafit (in al-Umm) and al-Bayhaqi. Verified to be authentic by Mustafa al-“Adawi (Jami'u Ahkam in-Nis@ 3:124).

Quest for Love & Mercy 163 Forbidden Marriages

The excuse that some people give, “This marriage is better than committing zind,,” is absurd. First, such a marriage is not permissible to start with. Second, its outcome is worse than the worst outcome of zinda,

Therefore, young men should fear Allah and only marry Muslim women who will be good companions for them in this life and would help raise their children upon Islam.

Adab uz-Zifafi fis-Sunnat il-Mutahharah (The Etiquettes of Wedding According to the Purified Sunnah), New Edition, Muhammad Nasir udDin al-Albani, al-Maktabat ul-Islamiyyah, Amman, 1414 (1994),

Ahadith ul-Rada — Hujjiyyatuha wa-Fighuha (The Hadiths Concerning Breast-Feeding — their Authority and Understanding), Sa‘d al-Marsifi, Mv'assasat ur-Rayyan, Beirut, 1415 (1994),

Ahdadith ul-Wilayati fin-Nikah (The Hadiths Concerning Guardianship in Marriage), Sa‘d al-Marsifi, Mu‘assasat ur-Rayyan, Beirut, 1418

Ahkam uz-Zawaji fi Daw il-Kitabi was-Sunnah (Marriage Regulations in Light of the Book and Sunnah), ‘Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar, Dar unNafais, Amman, 1418 (1997).

Al-Hayat uz-Zawjiyyat us-Sa‘idah fi Zill il-Islam (The Happy Life of Marriage in the Light of Islam), ‘Abd ul-Hamid Khazzar, Dar ulFurqan, Amman, 1410 (1990).

Al-Ifsah ‘an Ahadith in-Nikah (Declaration of the Hadiths Concerning Marriage), Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Dar ‘Ammar, Amman, 1406 (1986).

Al-Jémi'u li-Ahkam il-Quran (The Collective Reference in Regard to the Quranic Rulings), al-Qurtubi, Dar ul-Fikr, Beirut, 1414 (1993).

Al-Mufas sal fl Ahkam il-Mar'ah (The Detailed Book in Regard to the Regulations for the Woman), Vol. 6, ‘Abd ul-Karim Zaydan, Mu’assasat ur-Risalah, Beirut, 1417 (1997). Asrar uz-Zawdj is-Sa‘td (Secrets for a Happy Marriage), Buthaynah al- ‘Iraqi, Dar ut Tuwayq, Riyadh, 1417 (1997).

Az-Zawaju fi Zill il-Islam (Marriage in the Shade of Islim), “Abd urRahman ‘Abd ul-Khaliq, ad-Dar us-Salafiyyah, Kuwait, 1408 (1988).

Az-Zina, Ahkamuhi, Asbabuha, Nat@ijuhi, walWigayatu Minh (Zind, Its Regulations, Causes, Results, and Protection against It), Jabr Mahmiid al-Fudaylat, Dar ‘Ammar, Amman, 1410 (1989).

Fatawa wa-Ras@il lin-Nis@ (Regulations & Letters for Women), Muhammad Bin Salih al-"Uthaymin, Maktabat Shams, Riyadh, 1410

Figh ul-Usrah (Regulations of the Family), Ahmad ‘Ali Taha Rayyan, the American Open University, Virginia, USA, (date not disclosed).

Figh uz-Zawaj (Regulations of Marriage), Salih Bin Ghanim as-Sadlan, Dar Balansiyah, Riyadh, 1416 (1996).

Fath ul-Bart Sharh Sahih il-Bukhari (The Creator’s Help in the Explanation of Sahih ul-Al-Bukhari), al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani, Dar ul-Kutub il-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1410 (1989).

Handbook of Marriage in Islam, Second Edition, Abdullah Muhammad Khouj, Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., 1992,

Handbook on Marriage, the Muslim Students’ Association of US & Canada, Indiana, 1980.

Huqiiq ul-Marat il-Muslimah fil-Qurani was-Sunnah (The Rights of the Muslim Woman in the Quran and Sunnah), Muhammad Furayjah, al-Maktab ul-Islami, Beirut, 1416 (1996).

Huqiiq un-Nisa@ _fil-Islam (The Rights of Women in Islam), Muhammad Rashid Rida & Muhammad Nasir ud-Din al-Albani, alMaktab ul-Islimi, Beirut, 1404 (1984).

Hugiig uz-Zawjayn (The Rights of the Two Spouses), Abii al-A'la alMawdidi, ad-Dar us-Sa‘tidiyyah, Jeddah, 1405 (1985).

Irw@ ul-Ghalili fi Takhriji Ahadithi Manar is-Sabil (Quenching the Thirst in Researching the Hadiths of Manar us-Sabil), Muhammad Nasir ud-Din al-Albani, al-Maktab ul-Islami, Beirut, 1405 (1985).

Jadawil ul-Muharramati min an-Nis@ (Lists of Prohibited Women), Nabil Tahiin, Dar uth-Thaqafat il-‘Arabiyyah, Riyadh, 1409 (1989).

Jamiu Ahkam in-Nis@ (The Collection of Rulings for Women), Vols. 3 & 5, Mustafa al-‘Adawi, Dar Ibn ‘Affan, Cairo, 1419 (1999).

Lin-Nis@i faqat, az-Zawjat us-Sdlihah (For Women Only: the Righteous Wife), Majdi Fathi as-Sayyid, Dar ur-Rayah, Riyadh, 1414

Munkarat ul-Afrah (Improper Acts During Celebrations), Mahmud Mahdi Istanbiili (Editor), al-Maktab ul-Islami, Beirut, 1405 (1985).

Rawdat ul-Muhibbin wa-Nuzhat ul-Mushtagin (Lovers’ Garden & Pleasure Trip of the Longing), Ibn Qayyim il-Jawziyyah, Dar ul-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1415 (1995).

Righteous Wife, the, Muhammad Shaman, al-Hidaayah Publishing, Birmingham, 1417 (1996).

Sharhu Qdniin il-Ahwal ish-Shakhsiyyah (Explanation of the Law of Personal Affairs), Mustafa as-SibaT, al-Maktab ul-Islami, Beirut, 1417

Sharh us-Sunnah (Explanations of the Sunnah), al-Baghawi, Vol. 9, alMaktab ul-Islami, Beirut, 1403 (1983).

Silsilat ul-Ahadith is-Sahihah (The Series of Authentic hadiths), Volumes 1 to 6, Muhammad Nasir ud-Din al-Albani, Maktabat ul-

Tahthiru Wulat il-Umir min al-Mughdlati fil-Muhiir (Warning the Guardians Against Excessiveness in Dowries), Muhammad Miisi alBaydani, at-Taw‘iyah al-Islamiyyah, Egypt, 1408 (1988).

Tuhfat ul-‘Ariis (The Gift to the Brides), Mahmid Mahdi Tstanbiili, alMaktab ul-Islami, Beirut, 1407 (1986).

Usiil ul-Mu‘asharat iz-Zawjiyyah (Fundamentals of the Marital Relationship), Muhammad Kan‘an, Dar ul-Basha‘ir, Beirut, 1419

Usus Ukhtiyar iz-Zawjayni fil-Kitabi was-Sunnah (The Fundamentals for Selection of the Two Spouses in the Book and Sunnah), Mus tafa as-Sayasinah, Dar ur-Rayah, Riyadh, 1408 (1988).

Zad ul-Ma‘ad Fi Hadyi Khayr il-‘Ibad (Provision for the Hereafter from the Guidance of the Best of People), Ibn Qayyim il-Jawziyyah, Muvassasat ur-Rayyan, Beirut, 1418 (1998).

‘Ishrat_un-Nis@ (Treatment of Women), Ahmad Bin Shu‘ayb anNasa’, Mu’assasat ul-Kutub ith-Thaqafiyyah, Beirut, 1409 (1989).

Ushrat un-Nis@ min al-Alif ilal-Y@ (Treatment of Women from A to Z), Usimah ‘Abdurrazziq, Dar ul-Watan, Riyadh, 1419 (1998).

APPENDIX A: MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE

The following sample marriage certificate was developed by the Author as a result of numerous marriages that he performed over more than twenty years. It incorporates the Sunnah requirements for a marriage, as well as legal requirements for Muslims living in the United States or other non-Muslim countries.

Note that the spacing and column-widths have greatly been reduced to allow the certificate to fit on the paper-size of this book. One is advised to modify this as needed when making an enlarged version.

Address and Phone Number

Birth Place & Date

His Address and Phone Number

Marriage Certificate 170 Quest for Love & Mercy

MARRIAGE DATA Legal Marriage islamic Marriage} Sadaq (dowry

|This is to certify that, on this day, the bride's and the groom’s parties have exchanged the 7jad and gabiil (offering and acceptance), in accordance with the Allah’s (38) Book and Hig [Messenger Muhammad’s (i$) Guidance. Finding no apparent Islamic obstacle to prevent this marriage, I therefore pronounce the above-named groom and bride husband and wife. This certificate carries no independent legal power; the interested parties must file for legal marriage as needed.

By signing this contract, all involved persons declare that, to the best of their knowledge, there is no Islimically legal reason preventing this marriage. They further agree that any and all

possible future disputes related to this marriage must be resolved according to the Islimic Law.

‘Witness 1, address, phone no. Witness 2, address, phone no. ‘Officiant (Imam or Judge)

‘Serial Number Recording Date

APPENDIX B: ARABIC TERMINOLOGY

introduction TRANSLATING AND REFERENCING Qur’AN AND HADITH