Ruling on a Muslim woman marrying a Shi’i

 

My cousin (daughter of my paternal uncle) is going to marry a Shi’i. What is the Islamic ruling on that? How can I persuade her not to go through with this marriage, knowing that her parents agree to it? Please advise me, may Allaah reward you with good.

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

The Standing Committee was asked the following question: 

We come from a tribe that lives on the northern borders [of
Saudi Arabia], and we mix with tribes from Iraq who are idolatrous Shi’ah;
they worship domes and call them al-Hasan and al-Husayn and ‘Ali. When one
of them stands up he says. “O ‘Ali, O Husayn.” Some people from our tribe
have intermarried with them and mix with them in all circumstances. We have
tried to teach them but they do not listen. I do not have enough knowledge
to teach them but I hate what they do, and I do not mix with them. I have
heard that we cannot eat meat slaughtered by them, but these people eat
their meat and do not care. We are asking you what are our obligations in
this case? 

Answer: 

Praise be to Allaah and blessings and peace be upon His
Messenger and his family and  companions. 

If the situation is as you describe – that they call upon
‘Ali, al-Hasan and al-Husayn, and so on – then they are mushrikeen who are
guilty of major shirk, which puts them beyond the pale of Islam. It is not
permissible for Muslim women to marry them, and it is not permissible for us
to marry their women, or to eat meat slaughtered by them. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And do not marry Al-Mushrikaat (idolatresses) till they
believe (worship Allaah Alone). And indeed a slave woman who believes is
better than a (free) Mushrikah (idolatress), even though she pleases you.
And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikoon till they believe
(in Allaah Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better than a (free)
Mushrik (idolater), even though he pleases you. Those (Al-Mushrikoon) invite
you to the Fire, but Allaah invites (you) to Paradise and forgiveness by His
Leave, and makes His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations, etc.) clear to mankind that they may remember”

[al-Baqarah 2:221] 

And Allaah is the Source of
strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and
his family and companions. 

From Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 2/264 

You have to advise your
uncle and cousin, and tell them about the fatwas of the scholars concerning
this issue. If your uncle insists on marrying his daughter to a Shi’i, then
refer the matter to the sharee’ah court to prevent this evil action. 

And Allaah knows best. 

See also question no.
4569.