Marriage with a Taxpayer Female

“About the case of a man who marries a Jewish or a Christian woman, abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘What has he to do with a Jewish or Christian woman if he can find a Muslim woman?’ I (the narrator) asked, ‘What happens if he loves her?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘If he marries, he must stop her from drinking wine and eating pork and you must take notice that he will have deficiency in his religion.”’

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about marriage with a Jewish or Christian woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper for a Muslim to marry a Jewish or Christian woman; only with the simple-minded ones of them marriage is lawful.’”

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), if it is lawful to marry a Zoroastrian woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, however, she can be his slave-girl.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘A Jewish or a Christian woman cannot become a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman.’”

“This is concerning my question before him (the Imam) (a.s.), if one can marry a Jewish or a Christian woman as a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, but a Muslim woman can become a second wife, the first being a Jewish or a Christian woman.’”

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O abu Muhammad, what do you say about a man who marries a Jewish or a Christian woman, as a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman?’ I replied, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, my words have no meaning in your presence.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must say it; with it my words will come to light.’ I said, ‘It is not lawful to marry a Christian woman as a second wife, the first being a Muslim woman or non-Muslim woman.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why is it so?’ I replied, ‘It is because of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, “You must not marry the pagan women until they become believers.’” (2:221) He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What do you say about, “Marry of the chaste woman of the followers of the book (bible) which was before you” (5:5)?’ I replied, ‘Verse 221 of Chapter 2 has cancelled verse 5:5.’ He (the Imam) smiled and remained quiet.’”

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not proper to marry a woman of the people of the book (bible).’ I then asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, where is its unlawfulness mentioned?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is in His words, ‘You must not hold on to your unbelieving wives.’ (60:10)”

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘Marry of the chaste women of those to whom the book was given before you.’ (5:5) He (the Imam) said, ‘It is cancelled by, ‘You must not hold on to your unbelieving wives.’ (60:10)”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Of the non-Muslim taxpayers, if one spouse becomes a Muslim, their marriage remains valid and he cannot take her out of the Muslim domain to other areas or spend a night with her but he can meet her during the day. The pagans, like Arab pagans or others live with their marriage until the time the waiting period is complete. If the woman becomes a Muslimah then the man becomes a Muslim before the waiting period is over. She remains his wife; but if he did not become a Muslim before the waiting period is complete then she becomes stranger for him and he cannot approach her. This applies to all non-tax payers. It is not proper for a Muslim to marry a Jewish or a Christian woman if he can find a Muslim woman.’”

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘It is not proper for a Muslim to marry a Jewish or a Christian woman if he can find a free Muslim woman or a slave-girl.’”

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about the case of a man who has a Christian wife; if he can marry a Jewish woman as a second wife. He (the Imam) said, ‘People of the book are under the domain of the Imam and there is permission from us for you especially, so it is not unlawful to marry.’ I then asked, ‘Can he marry a slave-girl?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not proper to marry three slave-girls. If he marries a Muslim woman who does not know about his non-Muslim wives and he goes to bed with her, she can demand the mahr (dower) whatever it is, and it is up to her to live with him or go to her family. If she decides to go; after three cycles of menses or three months she can lawfully marry.’ I then asked, ‘Can he bring her back if he divorces the Jewish and Christian women before her waiting periods is complete?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, he can do so.’”