Tuesday | 19 March 2024 | 8 Ramadhan 1445

Fatwa Answer

Question ID: 1455 Category: Advice and Consulting
Converting a non-Muslim into a Muslim and marrying a Muslim boy

Assalam o Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatuhu,

We wanted to know what are the Shariah rules are for:

  1. Converting a non-Muslim girl to Muslim
  2. Name change to a Muslim name (father was non-Muslim and has passed away) 
  3. Once converted to Muslim, what are the shariah rules for marrying to a Muslim boy. 

Your guidance is much needed in this matter. 
Jazak Allah 

Munawar Ali

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

الجواب وباللہ التوفیق

1. If a non-Muslim wants to convert to Islam, the recommended method is for him or her to perform ghusl, then read the “shahadah” with translation:

أشہد أن لا إلٰہَ إلا اللّٰہُ وَحْدہٗ لا شَرِیکَ لَہٗ وأشہدُ أنّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبدُہٗ ورسُولُہ۔

Translation:

"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is the One, there is no partner to Him, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the servant of Allah and His Messenger".

Then Faith should be taught in Summary and in Detail. 

The declaration of Faith in Summary is:

اٰمَنْتُ بِاللّٰہِ کَمَا ھُوَ بِاَسْمَائِہ، وَ صِفَاتِہ، وَ قَبِلْتُ جَمِیْعَ اَحْکَامِہ۔

Translation:

"I believe in Allah as He is with His names and attributes, and I accept all His commands".

The declaration of Faith in Detail is:

اٰمَنْتُ بِاللّٰہِ وَ مَلٰٓئِکَتِہ، وَ کُتُبِہ، وَ رُسُلِہ، وَالْیَوْمِ الْاٰخِرِ وَالْقَدْرِ خَیْرِہ، و شَرِّہ، مِنَ اللّٰہِ تَعَالیٰ وَالْبَعْثِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ۔

Translation:

"I believe in Allah and His angels and His books and His Messengers and the day of resurrection and that good and evil destiny is from Allah and resurrection after death".

Then the confession of acquittal from her former religion should also be taken from her. In this way she will enter the fold of Islam. After that she should be encouraged to learn Islamic rules and codes of behavior to live her future life in accordance with those principles.

In the case of a male converting to Islam, male circumcision is a "Sunnah" and is one of the distinctive Islamic traditions. Therefore, if the person is capable of and is in good health, it is recommended for him to get it done as soon as possible. But if he is weak and frail then there is allowance for not doing it, to avoid harm.

2. The best way to have a male name is to add 'Abd’ before one of the beautiful names of The Allah Almighty, such as' Abdullah,' Abd-ur-Rahman, etc. Or  be named by the attributes of the beautiful names of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Similarly, the names of the Companions of the Holy Prophet (SAW) or of the religious scholars may be used.

For a female name, one of the names of the blessed wives (RA) of the Holy Prophet (SAW), his blessed daughters (RA), and his “Sahabiat” (RA), wives and daughters of religious scholars etc. may be used.

3. After becoming a Muslim, she should marry a suitable, virtuous, pious and an employed-on-job man, in a simple ceremony by following the Sunnah and avoiding deviant rituals and innovations.

وفي حدیث جبرئیل: قال: فأخبرني عن الإيمان، قال:»أن تؤمن باللّٰه، وملائكته، وكتبه، ورسله، واليوم الآخر، وتؤمن بالقدر خيره وشره«. (صحیح مسلم: رقم الحدیث:۱)

وفي شرح الطحاوي سأل أبو يوسف كيف يسلم ؟فقال: أن يقول أشهد أن لا إله إلا اللہ وأن محمدا رسول اللہ ويقر بما جاء من عند اللہ، ويتبرأ من الذي انتحله، وقال لم أدخل في هذا الدين قط وأنا بريء منه.(البحرالرائق:۵؍۱۳۸،كتاب السير،توبۃ الزندیق)

(وإسلامه أن يتبرأ عن الأديان) سوى الإسلام (أو عما انتقل إليه) بعد نطقه بالشهادتين.(الدرالمختارمع   رد المحتار:۴؍۲۲۶،کتاب السیر،باب المرتد)

وصرح في العنایۃ بأن التبرأ بعد الإتیان بالشہادتین ۔ وفي شرح الطحاوي : سئل أبو یوسف کیف یسلم ؟ فقال : أن یقول : أشہد أن لا إلہ إلا اللہ وأن محمداً رسول اللہ ، ویقر بما جاء من عند اللہ ، ویتبرأ من الذي انتحلہ ۔ (۵/۲۱۶ ، کتاب السیر ، أحکام المرتدین)

والختان سنة، وهو من شعائر الإسلام، وخصائصه، فلو اجتمع أهل بلدة على تركه حاربهم الإمام. (مجمع الأنهر في شرح ملتقى الأبحر: ۲؍۷۴۴، كتاب الخنثى)

 

فقط واللہ اعلم بالصواب