My son wants to marry a Catholic girl. Does Islam allow a Muslim Man to marry a Catholic woman ? Under which conditions is it still permissible to marry the 'People of the Book' ?

Kindly refer below on marriage to the Ahlul Kitaab.

We advise you apply your discretion on determining whether it will be better to break ties with your sons or not. If he is making an incorrect decision, especially, when his Imaan is at risk by marrying such a girl and he will succumb to the pressure of the parents, then the decision to break ties with him will be appropriate.

If he will not succumb to the pressure, then it will not be appropriate to break ties with him. Wisdom and diplomacy should be applied to communicate with him. If he is insistent on getting married to such a girl, he should be advised to give her Da'wah to Islam and convert her.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.

It is not permissible for a Muslim female to marry a non-Muslim male. However, a Muslim male may marry only a Christian or Jewish female. It is not permissible for a Muslim male to marry any other non-Muslim female.

It is obvious that there are many things a male can do, which is not easily possible for a female and vice versa. Islam has taken into consideration the masculine and feminine strength and weaknesses respectively. There is a possibility of the non-Muslim male due to his masculine powers convincing his Muslim wife into abandoning Islam. Therefore, Islam has considered her feminine nature and protected her correct beliefs by prohibiting her marrying a non-Muslim.

The Muslim husband is not obliged to pressurise his Christian/Jewish wife to accept Islam. He may apply wisdom and diplomacy and only influence her to Islam.

In Islam, a female is equally respected as a male, however, due to the different masculine and feminine natures, Islam believes in separation of roles.