Q: My colleagues and I, members of
Ansar Al-Sunnah Al-Muhamadiyyah
in
Sudan
in
Kassala,
especially Shaykh Muhammad Al-Hasan Abdul-Kadder, hold different views regarding the following Ayah (Qur'anic verse) in Surah Al-Baqarah,
And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses, etc.)
They apply this Ayah to Muslim women who visit graves and who seek the help of the Awliya' (pious people) and they prevent Muslims from marrying them. I believe that this Ayah is talking about
the Mushrik (who associates others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) women
who do not follow a Divine religion. I added that Allah (Exalted be He) permitted Muslim men to marry women from the People of the Scripture in Surah Al-Ma'idah as they follow a Divine religion. (Part No. 18; Page No. 309) This is so even though the People of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) are considered disbelievers because the Christians believe in the Trinity and the Injil (Gospel) was distorted. On the other hand, those Muslim women testify La ilaha illa Allah (there is no god but Allah) and Muhammad is His Messenger. They can be considered from the People of the Scripture as the Qur'an is preserved. When these women marry Muslim men, their husbands can guide and advise them and In sha’a-Allah (if Allah wills) they will be true Muslims. I would like you to convince Shaykh Muhammad Al-Hasan, president of
Ansar Al-Sunnah Al-Muhamadiyyah
in
Kassala,
who is in
Makkah
now. I know that you will clarify the truth.
A:
The
Jews say that
`Uzayr is the son of Allah (Exalted be He) and the
Christians say that Christ is the son of Allah (Exalted be He) and believe in the Trinity. They worshipped other than Allah (Exalted be He) during the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and while the Qur'an was being revealed. Allah (Exalted be He) permitted Muslim men to marry the free chaste women among them in what He (Glorified be He) says:
Made lawful to you this day are At-Tayyibât [all kinds of Halâl (lawful) foods, which Allâh has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits)]. The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) before your time when you have given their due Mahr (bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girl-friends.
This Ayah is in Surat Al-Ma`idah which is one of the last Surahs to be revealed and in which He (Exalted be He) mentions the (Part No. 18; Page No. 310) saying of the Christians that Christ is the son of Allah (Exalted be He) and worshipping other than Him. The following Ayah
And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allâh Alone).
Is not Nasikhah (an Ayah whose content, or the judgment it conveys, abrogates the content and judgment of an earlier verse) of the Ayah in Surat Al-Ma`idah. The Ayah of Surah Al-Baqarah cannot be confined to the disbelievers unlike Jewish and Christian women, and it is not permissible to say that it is abrogated from the Ayah of Surah Al-Ma`idah. On the other hand, the women who seek the help of the dead are Murtad (apostates). They should be informed of the correct `Aqidah (creed). If they repent, so praise be to Allah (Exalted be He). If they insist on this, after it has been clarified to them and the evidence is given, the Muslim ruler must apply the ruling of Shari`ah, meaning, execute the apostate. They are not like the Jewish and Christian women; they are more evil than the disbelieving women. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.