Is it permissible to marry a Christian woman without the first wife knowing, and with the testimony of her brother and another brother of hers, given the absence of Muslim witnesses?
For a marriage to a Kitabiyah (a woman from the People of the Book—Jewish or Christian) to be valid, the following conditions must be met: she must be chaste, and her guardian must contract the marriage for her. The guardian may delegate another person via phone. The presence of two Muslim witnesses is required, and the guardian cannot be one of the witnesses. Abu Hanifa holds the view that a Kitabiyah may contract her own marriage in the presence of two Kitabi witnesses. It is preferable for a Muslim not to marry a non-Muslim woman due to the many harms involved. It is obligatory to avoid seclusion and mixing with her, and to invite her to Islam.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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