Muslims’ Marriage with Idolaters Banned in Quran

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Family is one of the most important and fundamental bases of society and shoulders the responsibility for growing children who build up the next generations. Islam is sensitive toward this social unit and has defined specific frameworks for it.

The Holy Quran offers many regulations on marriage; one of them is banning Muslims from marrying infidels (idolaters):

 “Do not marry pagan women unless they believe in God. A believing slave girl is better than an idolater, even though the idolaters may attract you. Do not marry pagan men unless they believe in God. A believing slave is better than an idolater, even though the idolater may attract you. The pagans invite you to the fire, but God invites you to Paradise and forgiveness through His will. God shows His evidence to people so that they may take heed.” (Surah Baqarah, verse 221)

Elaborating on the verse, Tafsir Nemooneh (an exegesis written by Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi) notes that this part of Surah Baqarah is a response to a question on marrying idolaters. The verse implies that marriage does not just aim to satisfy one’s sexual needs as a spouse has a direct role in growing the children and forming one’s character.

What comes at the end of the verse is an order to think deeper: “The pagans invite you to the fire, but God invites you to Paradise and forgiveness through His will.”

Meanwhile, Tafsir Noor (an exegesis written by Hojat-ol-Islam Mohsen Qara’ati) lists 13 messages of this verse:

1. Muslims are not entitled to have family ties with idolaters
2. Faith is more important in choosing a spouse, and marriage with idolaters is prohibited
3. One should not be deceived by the beauty, wealth, and position of the other side
4. Beauty, wealth, and position cannot replace faith
5. One should pay attention to the underprivileged as marriage with the faithful is recommended
6. Human desires should be controlled within the faith’s framework
7. Faith is what brings value and disbelief is the key to fall
8. First they should believe then a marriage can happen. One should not assume that faith can come after marriage
9. Muslims should prevent the infiltration of idolatry in their lives and pay attention to the dangers of such marriages
10. A pagan spouse prepares the ground for hell
11. Adhering to divine orders is the path to Paradise
12. Forgiveness is only bestowed by God, in contrast to Christianity in which faith leaders are believed to have such a power
13. Humans understand realities by nature and regulations come only as a reminder