What Do You Think?

[ontoxPara]

What happens if a woman who is married to a non-Muslim decides to become a Muslim?

Suppose for some reason a woman wants to become a Muslim but her husband does not?

Is she permitted to remain with her husband?

And what happens to the children, if any?

[jerrys1960]

The short answers to your questions:

What happens if a woman who is married to a non-Muslim decides to become a Muslim?
Suppose for some reason a woman wants to become a Muslim but her husband does not?

If the woman wants to become Muslim the husband must also convert or the marriage must be dissolved.

Is she permitted to remain with her husband?
no

And what happens to the children, if any?
If they are young, the children will be required to go with the mother and raised as Muslim. Older children are strongly encouraged to go with the mother and become Muslim.

Now for the long answer.

We found several groups talking about this topic. But the following copied from:

http://islamicemirate.com/fiqh-jurisprudence/woman/1442-embracing-islam-while-having-a-non-muslim-husband.html

Seems to cover most of the bases.

One should pay particular attention to the last part when it comes to convincing the woman to leave her husband for Islam. (it seems Islam has no problems with breaking up marriages to get people to convert.)



EMBRACING ISLAM WHILE HAVING A NON MUSLIM HUSBAND

Written by Muhammad Ibn Salih Al-Uthaymeen

We face a problem in Islaamic centers while calling non-Muslim women to Islaam.

It is the attachment of these women who want to embrace Islaam 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 Islaam it is not permissible for her to stay under the guardianship of a non Muslim man due to the saying of Allaah ‘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 Islaam and leaving off the rest of the issue?

All praise is due to Allaah, we asked the noble Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih ibn ‘Uthaymeen this question:

A woman is asking:
I would like to embrace Islaam 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 Islaam saying: "I want to become Muslim but our marriage contract will be nullified unless you embrace Islaam."

If she mentions this to him he may agree to become Muslim.

Question:
If she accepts Islaam, should she give him Da’wah at home or is she to leave the house?

Answer:
If she hopes that he will embrace Islaam, 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 Islaam.

Question:
How about being alone with him?

Answer:
She shouldn’t even be alone with him.

Question:
If telling her this would turn her away from Islaam, is it permissible for us to keep the second portion of this answer hidden and say to her: "Embrace Islaam 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 said to ‘Alee when he sent him to khaybar:"Call them to Islaam and inform them of what is obligated upon them from the rights of Allaah in regards to it."

Question:
So this woman, if she stays with her husband after she converts to Islaam, 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 Islaam and know that if you become Muslim and your Husband doesn’t 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 Allaah and His messenger over everyone else;

If she is sincere in calling her husband to Islaam and in performing Du’aa for him, Allaah may guide him through her;

Whoever leaves something for the pleasure of Allaah, Allaah will replace it with something better than it;

Allaah 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 Islaam 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 Allaah for guidance, success and pertinence, and may the prayers be upon our Prophet Muhammad.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-Uthaymeen

Al Mawsoo’ah: #436