A Comparative Study of the Ruling on Marriage with People of the Book in the Jurisprudence of the Five Major Schools of Thought

The marriage of a Muslim to a non-Muslim is one of the important and complex issues in Islamic societies, encompassing religious, social, cultural, and legal dimensions. This article examines the various religious and jurisprudential perspectives regarding this type of marriage. From an Islamic perspective, the Quran and Hadith have stipulated specific conditions for Muslims marrying People of the Book (Jews and Christians), while marriage with those not considered People of the Book faces jurisprudential restrictions (The Holy Quran, Al-Ma'idah: 5). Furthermore, the social and cultural impacts of such marriages, including challenges and difficulties in religious and cultural adaptation, are analyzed. This article, while reviewing the opinions of Islamic jurists and Maraji' al-Taqlid, also compares the laws of different countries and the experiences of Muslim and non-Muslim communities in this regard. The aim of this research is to provide a comprehensive and documented analysis of the various dimensions of marriage between a Muslim and a non-Muslim and to examine its legal and social challenges.
This issue is one of the fundamental discussions in Family Jurisprudence and, in the contemporary world, given the increase in cultural interactions and interfaith marriages, has become a jurisprudential, social, and legal challenge.
Secondly, examining the diverse opinions of the Islamic schools of thought helps in understanding the jurisprudential and narrative diversity regarding this issue and demonstrates how juristic reasoning (Ijtihad) is shaped based on Quranic texts, narrations (Riwayat), and social interests (Masalih). It also clarifies that certain rulings, such as the permissibility of a Muslim man marrying a woman from the People of the Book or the prohibition of a Muslim woman marrying a non-Muslim, are not only based on religious texts but also have dimensions related to protecting religious identity, raising a Muslim generation, and preserving the structure of the Islamic family.
Finally, this research provides a scholarly foundation for legislating personal status laws in Islamic countries, as well as for interfaith dialogue, fostering unity in understanding religious rulings and peaceful coexistence in multi-religious societies.