Is it permissible not to have children from a Christian wife, for fear of her religion influencing the children, or should one continue the marriage and procreate, given the success of the relationship, and is it preferable to marry a Muslim woman based on the opinion of a relative who believes the first marriage is void due to the absence of a guardian?

For a marriage to be valid, it must be contracted by the woman's guardian (wali) or his agent, in the presence of two Muslim witnesses. This is based on the Prophet's (peace be upon him) sayings: "There is no marriage except with a guardian" and "There is no marriage except with a guardian and two just witnesses." The guardian of a Muslim woman is her father, then her paternal grandfather, then her son, then her full brother, then her half-brother (from the father's side), and so on. As for a Kitābiyyah (a Christian or Jewish woman), her guardian is the closest male relative from her own religion, in order of proximity. A Muslim has no guardianship over her except for a master over his slave, or a ruler over his subjects.

If the guardian of a Kitābiyyah refuses to marry her to a Muslim, the guardianship transfers to the next in line from her male relatives ( asabah). If all of them refuse, the Muslim judge (qāḍī) or his representative, such as the director of an Islamic center, should marry her off. A civil marriage contract is not valid.

The questioner must separate from the woman if a valid Islamic marriage contract with her guardian has not been concluded.

It is not advisable to keep a Kitābiyyah wife if she wishes to raise the children in her religion, due to the danger this poses to the children's faith. There are enough Muslim women.

Fear for the children's religion permits the husband to take measures to prevent conception, even if the wife does not consent.