EMBRACING ISLAM WHILE
HAVING A NON-MUSLIM HUSBAND
We face a problem in Islamic centers while
calling non-Muslim women to Islam. It is the attachment of these women who want
to embrace Islam to their husbands while their husbands do not. It is difficult
for them to sacrifice their marriages especially if they have children and their
husbands are well mannered, and so their love for their husbands takes
precedence. We know that if a woman accepts Islam it is not permissible for her
to stay under the guardianship of a non-Muslim man due to the saying of Allah
‘Azza wa Jal: {They
are not lawful (wives) for the disbelievers nor are the disbelievers lawful
(husbands) for them.} [Al
Mumtahinah: 10] So how do we deal with this problem? Is it permissible for us to
concentrate on converting them to Islam and leaving off the rest of the
issue?
All praise is due to Allah, we asked the
noble Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn ‘Uthaymeen this question:
A
woman is asking: I would like
to embrace Islam but I have a good husband and I do not want to get separated
from him, so what should I do?
Answer: She must get separated from him. However is
it possible for her to call him to Islam saying: “I want to become Muslim but
our marriage contract will be nullified unless you embrace Islam.” If she
mentions this to him he may agree to become Muslim.
Question: If she accepts Islam, should she give him
Da’wah at home or is she to leave the house?
Answer: If she hopes that he will embrace Islam,
then she should stay in his house until her ‘Iddah period
expires.
Question: Is she to veil herself from him during the
‘Iddah period or not?
Answer: It is safer that she does not expose herself
to him because it is not guaranteed that he will accept
Islam.
Question: How about being alone with
him?
Answer: She should not even be alone with
him.
Question: If telling her this would turn her away from
Islam, is it permissible for us to keep the second portion of this answer hidden
and say to her: “Embrace Islam first and then we will tell you about the ruling
of staying with your husband later.”
Answer: No, and if you did this she may become an
apostate, then the problem would be even greater. This is why the Prophet
(sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said to ‘Ali when he sent him to
khaybar:
“Call them to Islam and inform them of what
is obligated upon them from the rights of Allah in regards to
it.”
Question: So this woman, if she stays with her husband
after she converts to Islam, she is considered to be performing of a Major sin,
correct?
Answer: Yes, but is it permissible to keep
practicing fornication?
Question: In summary what should we say to
her?
Answer: We say: “Accept Islam and know that if you
become Muslim and your Husband does not then your marriage contract is
nullified.” Finished.
When speaking to women that go through this
issue, you should concentrate on the following points while explaining them
fully:
> Giving precedence to the love of Allah
and His Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) over everyone else;
> If she is sincere in calling her
husband to Islam and in performing Du’a for him, Allah may guide him through
her;
> Whoever leaves something for the
pleasure of Allah, Allah will replace it with something better than
it;
> Allah will not foresake a slave of His
that has sacrificed something that they love for His pleasure;
> Also you should strive to solve the
likes of these problems. If a woman embraces Islam and gets separated from her
husband, then a brother should step forward and present himself in order to
marry her and unite her with her children or find someone from amongst the
wealthy Muslims to provide for her and her children.
We ask Allah for guidance, success and
pertinence, and may the prayers be upon our Prophet Muhammad.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen
- Reference: Al Mawsoo’ah: #436 - Category: Women’s Matters - Translator: Nadir
Ahmad, Abu Abdul-Waahid
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