What Reliable Ulema say about the people of the books?
Source The Noble Quran Tafser-e- Usmani
by Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani 1885 -1949 English translation
by Maulana Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmad Ulema of Deoaband (India Pakistan)
Allah may have granted this concession because The Christians or Jews, however, believe, though wrongly, the Divine Revelation and Prophet hood, and they are apt for further reformation
Exceptions:
The Idolaters, Polytheist, (such as Hindu, Buddhist etc.) are not granted this concession. perhaps because their hearts are more defiled by atheism or polytheism and are not acceptable in a Muslim Society
If a Muslim becomes Christian of Jew
denouncing Islam, she or he is not lawful for marriage because she/he
in an apostate. Similarly the food of an apostate is not lawful though he or she may sacrifice the animal pronouncing the Name of Allah thousand times
over it. For example, the girls of the Qadyanis (Ahymedia sect)
who are declared apostates by the Muslims are not lawful for marriage,
nor their sacrifice is lawful to eat. Similarly the women of other
religions as Hinduism and Buddhism are not lawful, neither the sacrifice
of the Hindus and Budhist is lawful. Allah does not recognize any
other religion (except the Religion of the Jews and Christians) as a Heavenly
Religion. The Religion of the Jews and Christian is heavenly though
they have much distorted their religions, and though their religions are
abrogated by Islam, because abrogation does not discard their heavenly
character.
Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi’s
Ulema of Deoband
(India) (fatwa) decree is as follow:
“But those who are called Christians nowadays are mostly Christian as a community; religiously they are simply agnostics (One who believes that there can be no proof of the existence of God but does not deny the possibility that God exists) and materialists; ( those who believe that physical well-being and worldly possessions constitute the greatest good and highest value in life .another word denies Hereafter).to such this order of propriety of marriage is not applicable (Indad F vol. ii,p170; Taf. BQ vol iii,sect 9). source: Fatawa Rahimiyah by Mufti Abur Rahim Lajpuri
Allaamah Shabir Ahmed Uthmani who is one of the best commentators of the Quran has observed as follows:
May it be remembered that the Christian contemporary ( modernist) with us are generally Christian in name only. Among them are many who neither believe in any revealed Book nor in any religion nor in the existence of Allah. The term scripture (People of Books) cannot be applied to them. Hence the religious prescription (hukm) in respect of their slaughtered animal and women will not be like that means for the scripture (People of Books) May it also be noted that the lawfulness of the thing means that it itself there in non reason for its being unlawful but if external influences and circumstances are such that one has to commit several other unlawful acts to derive benefit from it nay, even if there is possibility of one's committing infidelity(sin), then the deriving of benefit from such thing shall not be permitted (Fawaid-e-Surat al-Maida, p.171 sect 6)
It is stated in the Tafsir-e- Haqqani (Vol. IV, p 11) that the agnostics of Europe of the period are not Christians at all.
It is stated in the Fatawa Dar al-Ulum that those people who are called Christians nowadays are mostly agnostics, they do not believe in any religion and not even convinced of the existence of God. Though in the census reports these people are stated to be Christians according to our religious regulation they cannot be termed scripturaries. (vols. i-ii, p. 160, Qadim)
One thing is notable. Those Christians and Jews who don't believe in their own Religion are not real Christian and Jews. There are either Atheists or Irreligious. So they are like Idolaters and Polytheists. Their women are not lawful; their sacrifice is not lawful,
Caliph Umar Farouq’s (R.A.) Ruling:
The reign of the second caliph, Umar Farouq (R.A.) , was a period of Islamic dominance; the Muslims emotions were extremely pure and holy and each emotion was dominated by Islamic taste and devotion. But in spite of this the Caliph prohibited marriage with scripturary (People of Books) women, saying
“I do not make the lawful unlawful; certainly Allah has permitted marriage with scripturary (People of Books) women but the general expediency of Muslims requires that this permission is not availed of”
It may be noted that Umar Farouq (R.A.) had prohibited marriage with the Christian women of those times when they were religious and scripturary (People of Books) in the right sense of the term; in our own times they are neither religious nor truly scripturary (People of Books) they are rather agnostic and thoroughly materialist. Hence it is more necessary that we follow the recommendation of Umar Farouq’s (R.A.) and acted upon that such marriages are not contracted.
NARRATOR 'Abdullah Ibn 'Umar, Nafi' narrated that whenever Ibn 'Umar was asked about marrying a Christian lady or a Jewess, he would say: "Allah has made it unlawful for the believers to marry ladies who ascribe partners in worship to Allah, and I do not know of a greater thing, as regards to ascribing partners in worship, etc. to Allah, than that a lady should say that Jesus is her Lord although he is just one of Allah's slaves REFERENCE BUKHARI 7.209 875
RECOMMENDATION OF ULMA
One thing should be noted more. If there is the danger of religious loss in marrying a Christian of Jew woman. then it is not good to mix with them. Modern Christians are much inclined to materialism and have gone far away from their own religion. The Muslim should protect their Islam first from annihilation in personal, national and international life. This is why is declared after this permission the “whose denies Eman and turns apostate his labor i.e. good deeds, are spoiled and in the Hereafter he shall be one of those who are losers.”
A Muslim is not spoiled and in the Hereafter he shall be one of those who are losers. A Muslim is not expected to spoil his Religion by marrying a girl from the People of the Book. One the contrary, he should save his life-partner from the chastisement of Allah by converting her to Islam. The worldly life is transitory, One day everyone will die, and the Day of Resurrection he will have to appear before his Lord Who will take the accounts of the deeds done and ideas and beliefs. cherished in the World. The Muslims living in the Western world should recapitulate their life in the respect of the present verse. There are stories of secret love and freedom. But Allah does not like secret love and freedom, Allah has approved of marital relations to establish a moralized society. A religion strongly advocating a pious life cannot allow filthy and impure actions. A man should not become the slave of sensual pleasures and voluptuous gratification purification is the Kernel of Islam. Any action against the ideology of purification cannot be allowed by the Divine Religion. this is why Islam has permitted to keep more than one wife but strongly condemned concubine and fornication. It is also inferred that the object of marriage is the purification of self, establishment of family life and generation of the human race, and not the gratification of sensual and sexual lust. The positive objects of marriage cannot be achieved without a marital life also. It is dire animality therefore to denounce marriage institution.
ALLAH SAYS IN HOLY QURAN
And incline not toward those who are wrong (unjust then the fire will touch you, and no one is your helper beside Allah, then you will not find help anywhere. (Sura Hood 11:118)
Allah instructed previously to the Muslims “do not cross the limits” but now it is told that there should not be slightest inclination toward those who are wrong doers. Inclination includes inter mixing, social relations, company, honor and respect, praise and admiration, external resemblance , co-operation, etc. It is advised to avoid all these things as much as possible lest the flame of the fir should touch you. In that case there will be no helper except Allah to help you, nor you will find any help from Allah.
Some poet says:
The end of person of feeble faith and infirm belief is always such. It is an acknowledged truth that the exterior affect the interior and the sages maxim is famous:
“Bad habits are contagious and dispositions are receptive”
Hence the religious savants have counselled:
As far as you can, be away from a bad friend for you
own sake, for a bad friend is worse that the wicked snake.
The wicked snake strikes at only your life, the wicked friend whereas your
life as well as faith knifes.