Does the ruling on the permissibility of marrying women from among the People of the Book still apply to Jews and Christians of today, given the polytheism that may taint their beliefs? And is it a condition that the woman from the People of the Book whom a Muslim wishes to marry must be chaste?

Jews and Christians are disbelievers, but Islamic law has made an exception for them by permitting a Muslim man to marry their free women and by making their slaughtered animals lawful. This is based on Allah's saying: "This day [all] good foods have been made lawful for you. And the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you, and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] the chaste women from among the believers and the chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation" [Al-Ma'idah: 5]. This verse specifies the general ruling in Allah's saying: "And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe" [Al-Baqarah: 221]. There is no difference in this ruling between contemporary People of the Book and those from previous times. It is stipulated that the woman from the People of the Book must be chaste (muhsanah). However, it is preferable for a Muslim man to marry a religious Muslim woman, due to the risks involved in marrying women from the People of the Book.