The Qur'an does prohibit all marital relations with polytheists.
“Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they
believe: a slave woman who believes is better than an
unbelieving woman, even though she allure you. Nor marry (your
girls) to unbelievers until they believe: a man slave who
believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allure
you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the Fire. But God
beckons by His Grace to the Garden (of bliss) and forgiveness,
and makes His signs clear to mankind: that they may celebrate
His praise” (Qur'an 2:221)
A marriage relationship is never one which is confined to the
physical plane alone. Indeed, married life finds true fulfillment of purpose
only in the union of an attitude of innocent love with one of mutual
respect. The Qur'an has compared the purpose of man-woman
relationship with that of the clothing that one wears. “...... they are
your garments and ye are their garments.” (2:187). This similitude
makes clear the degree of affinity and mutuality which must exist
between life-mates.
As distinct from the religions that have accepted asceticism as
their ground norm, Islam views marital life as a religious obligation. In
fact, Prophet Muhammad (e) had himself taught that ‘he who gets
married has completed one half of faith.’
The Qur'an and the practices of the Prophet have, in themselves,
prescribed the exact observances that are to be maintained in marital
life. It is expedient to follow these regulations even in the sexual life
that is based on morality. A Muslim can, by no means, deviate from
this code of conduct.
Polytheism has, of itself, no foundational basis per se. Therefore,
polytheism has taken on different forms and meanings according to
the variations in time and place. Similar has been the case of the rites,
customs, and moral prescriptions of the polytheist. As far as the Muslim,
who is obliged to follow the moral code revealed by God, is concerned
he can never follow laws that have been formulated by man;
particularly when such an attitude would go contrary to the tenets of
the faith of his own profession. That his partner should follow a moral
life that is quite contrary to his own creed, will only serve to adversely
affect the religious life of the Muslim.
There are religious communities that view adultery as a religious
rite. Indeed, the Hittites of Greece and the Devadasis in India, were
forced into prostitution in the name of religion itself. The decree of
Manu Smrithi is that if neither the virgin nor her father were to give
their consent, it is permissible to carry away, by force, the woman of
one’s liking and then marry her. Such marriages which are permitted
to the Kshathriya are referred to as Rakshasam (Manu Smrithi). It
was the custom amongst the polytheists of Mecca to claim paternal
rights over children who most resembled them and which where born
out of extra-marital sexual relationships which they had with many
wemen. Group sex was a way of salvation in many primitive religions
like Tantrik religion. Undoubtedly, therefore, it would be a difficult
task, indeed, for the Muslim who chooses a mate from communities of
polytheists who accepted as their own such forms of moral law, to live
by his own religion.
If the Qur'an had allowed the marriage with the Polytheists it
would have caused much hardship for the Muslims. How would it be
possible for a Muslim, to accept as his mate, a tantrik woman who
practices polyandry as a religious act? It should either be that she is
forced to forego her religious freedom or that he is forced to act against
his religion. It would, perhaps, be also for the purpose of removing
such difficulties that the Lord Creator prohibited marriages, in their
totality, with the Polytheists.
The Qur'an does permit the Muslim to take mates from the
‘People of the Book’ who are heirs to a moral code that is as clear as
it is authentic. Whether this be the Jews or the Christians, they are
after all, the possessors of a religions scripture that is to ne obeyed
and of a moral code that is in accordance thereof. As for this moral
code, it is, at best, a rough approximation of the Islamic code itself. It
is, perhaps, for this reason that the Lord Creator permitted the Muslim
to marry women from amongst the ‘People of the Book’.
Marrying Christ/Jew( Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses)) prohibited:
2:221. And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allah Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress, etc.), even though she pleases you. And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikûn till they believe (in Allah Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free) Mushrik (idolater, etc.), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikûn) invite you to the Fire, but Allah invites (you) to Paradise and Forgiveness by His Leave, and makes His Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember.
60: 10. O you who believe! When believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them, Allah knows best as to their Faith, then if you ascertain that they are true believers, send them not back to the disbelievers, they are not lawful (wives) for the disbelievers nor are the disbelievers lawful (husbands) for them.
Bukhari :: Book 7 :: Volume 63 :: Hadith 209
Narrated Nafi':
Whenever Ibn 'Umar was asked about marrying a Christian lady or a Jewess, he would say: "Allah has made it unlawful for the believers to marry ladies who ascribe partners in worship to Allah, and I do not know of a greater thing, as regards to ascribing partners in worship, etc. to Allah, than that a lady should say that Jesus is her Lord although he is just one of Allah's slaves."
