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Does he have to divorce his wife if she rejects Islam?

05-05-2001

Question 10004

should one divorce his wife is she rejects islam

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

If your wife is from among the People of the Book – Jewish or Christian – then you do not have to divorce her; you can keep her and this is permissible. But if your wife is a follower of another religion, or has no religion at all, then the very fact of your being Muslim means that you must be separated, because it is not permissible for a Muslim to be married to a mushrikah; if he does that then he is a zaani (fornicator, adulterer) and that is not a (valid) marriage. 

Rulings on Marriage
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