Are Western women People of the Book or disbelievers?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A Western woman, if she adheres to the Jewish or Christian faith, is considered a woman of the book (Ahl al-Kitāb), and it is permissible to marry her. However, it is not permissible to marry an atheist woman. And whoever does not embrace the religion of Islam from among the Jews and Christians is considered among the disbelievers, for Allah Almighty says: "And whoever desires a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers."
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/60228
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 60228
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy