Can a Muslim marry a Christian?

Can a Muslim marry a Non-Muslim or Christian? The possibility for a Muslim to marry a Non-Muslim depends upon the gender and the religion of the Non-Muslim person.

• 4 things Islam declares Haram in Husband/Wife relation

Muslim Man and Christian Woman

A Muslim man can marry a Non-Muslim woman if the following 3 conditions are met as stated in Quran;

1. She is either a Jew or a Christian.
2. She does not commit Zina (out-of-marriage sex).
3. Muslim man pays them Mahar in wedlock.

The Jews and Christians are among those who have been given scriptures by Allah ﷻ and who believe in Torah and Bible respectively.

Mahar is the amount of gift given by a Muslim husband to his wife at the time of marriage.

“And ˹permissible for you in marriage˺ are chaste believing women as well as chaste women of those given the Scripture before you—as long as you pay them their dowries in wedlock, neither fornicating nor taking them as mistresses.” – Surah Al Ma’idah 5:5

Muslim Man and a Mushrik Woman

A Muslim man is not allowed to marry a Non-Muslim polytheist woman as stated in the Holy Quran. She is required to convert to Islam to marry a Muslim man.

• Polytheists are those who believe in more than one God.

Do not marry polytheistic women until they believe; for a believing slave-woman is better than a free polytheist. – Surah Al Bakarah 2:221

Muslim Woman and a Mushrik Man

A Muslim woman is not allowed to marry a polytheist man as stated in the Holy Quran. He is required to convert to Islam to marry a Muslim woman.

Do not marry your women to polytheistic men until they believe, for a believing slave-man is better than a free polytheist.– Surah Al Bakarah 2:221

Muslim Woman and Christian Man

A Muslim woman cannot marry a Non-Muslim man even if he is a Jew or Christian. The permission to marry a Jew or Christian is only given to Muslim men in the Holy Quran 5:5. Hence, a Muslim woman can only marry a Muslim man.