What is the ruling on a Muslim marrying a Christian woman in a civil marriage in Italy, given the presence of children?

Civil marriage, for the most part, does not observe the conditions of a valid marriage, such as offer and acceptance, the woman's guardian, and the Muslim identity of its witnesses. Therefore, it is an invalid marriage that must be annulled. If the couple wishes to continue, they can contract a religiously valid marriage. As for the children, they are attributed to the husband due to the semblance of a marital relationship.

It is not permissible to marry a disbelieving woman unless she is a chaste woman of the People of the Book. Marriage to a woman who is not of the People of the Book is invalid by consensus. While marriage to a chaste woman of the People of the Book is permissible, some scholars disliked it due to the potential prohibitions that may arise from it.

A Muslim must ask the people of knowledge about what they may need to know before undertaking an action, especially concerning marriage.