1 - All the jurisprudents unanimously agree that a MUSLIM woman cannot marry a NON-MUSLIM man. Allah says (Interpretation of meaning): {And give not (your daughters) in marriage to AL MUSHRIKUN (Polytheists, Pagans, Idolaters, and disbelievers in oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad, till they believe in Allah}. [2:221] Allah Says (Interpretation of meaning): {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} . [60:10] Because in this marriage, a Muslim woman faces the danger of Kufr, as her husband might influence her. Because a wife always follows the footprints of her husband. 2 – On these bases, the marriage of a Muslim woman is prohibited with any NON-MUSLIM either he is Christian, Jew, Atheist or Idolater etc. Allah has cut off the guardianship of a Kafir over any Muslim. Allah Says (Interpretation of meaning): {And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way over the believers}. [4:141] All the jurisprudents agree that marriage of a Muslim man to a Chaste woman from AHLULKITAB(People of the book) is lawful. Some of them disliked it. AHLULKITAB means the people of TORAH and BIBLE, who believe in a revealed religion, its origin was true, as Judaism and Christianity. Allah Says (Interpretation of meaning): {Made lawful to you this day are AL-TAYYIBAT [all kinds of Halal (lawful) foods, which Allah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, etc., milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits, etc.(. The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals, etc.) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christian) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christian) before your time when you have given their due mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girl-friends}.[5:5] The main condition for marriage is chastity of woman, because this will be a cause of love and affection between spouses. 4 – A Muslim can not marry a polytheist (who worships anything other than Allah, like Idols, Stars, Sun) or an atheist woman or an apostate woman. Allah Says (Interpretation of meaning): {And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allâh 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 Allâh 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 Allâh 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} . [2:221] 5 – The reason of permission of the marriage to a female of Ahlul Kitab is that she also believes in the basics of Islam, like her faith in oneness of Allah, in the hereafter life, in the reward and punishment from the Almighty Allah. There are some linking bridges between them, which may assure a happy conjugal life, and it is expected that she would embrace Islam, because she believes in messengers and revealed books in general. Allah knows best.
http://english.islamweb.net/ver2/Fatwa/ShowFatwa.php?lang=E&Id=81220&Opt...
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
1 - All the jurisprudents unanimously agree that a MUSLIM woman cannot marry a NON-MUSLIM man. Allah says (Interpretation of meaning): {And give not (your daughters) in marriage to AL MUSHRIKUN (Polytheists, Pagans, Idolaters, and disbelievers in oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad, till they believe in Allah}. [2:221] Allah Says (Interpretation of meaning): {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} . [60:10] Because in this marriage, a Muslim woman faces the danger of Kufr, as her husband might influence her. Because a wife always follows the footprints of her husband. 2 – On these bases, the marriage of a Muslim woman is prohibited with any NON-MUSLIM either he is Christian, Jew, Atheist or Idolater etc. Allah has cut off the guardianship of a Kafir over any Muslim. Allah Says (Interpretation of meaning): {And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way over the believers}. [4:141] All the jurisprudents agree that marriage of a Muslim man to a Chaste woman from AHLULKITAB(People of the book) is lawful. Some of them disliked it. AHLULKITAB means the people of TORAH and BIBLE, who believe in a revealed religion, its origin was true, as Judaism and Christianity. Allah Says (Interpretation of meaning): {Made lawful to you this day are AL-TAYYIBAT [all kinds of Halal (lawful) foods, which Allah has made lawful (meat of slaughtered eatable animals, etc., milk products, fats, vegetables and fruits, etc.(. The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals, etc.) of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christian) is lawful to you and yours is lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christian) before your time when you have given their due mahr (bridal money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage), desiring chastity (i.e. taking them in legal wedlock) not committing illegal sexual intercourse, nor taking them as girl-friends}.[5:5] The main condition for marriage is chastity of woman, because this will be a cause of love and affection between spouses. 4 – A Muslim can not marry a polytheist (who worships anything other than Allah, like Idols, Stars, Sun) or an atheist woman or an apostate woman. Allah Says (Interpretation of meaning): {And do not marry Al-Mushrikât (idolatresses, etc.) till they believe (worship Allâh 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 Allâh 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 Allâh 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} . [2:221] 5 – The reason of permission of the marriage to a female of Ahlul Kitab is that she also believes in the basics of Islam, like her faith in oneness of Allah, in the hereafter life, in the reward and punishment from the Almighty Allah. There are some linking bridges between them, which may assure a happy conjugal life, and it is expected that she would embrace Islam, because she believes in messengers and revealed books in general. Allah knows best.