A genuine question about Islam... Please give me your perspectives...?

My husband, who is Muslim, and I were having a conversation about religion. He was telling me that in Islamic belief God will torture those (I guess their souls when the time comes) who are not of the right faith (which is obviously Islam in my husband's view).
Based on this conversation what I don't understand is why Muslim men can have a non-Muslim wife knowing that by his belief her soul cannot be with God because she is not of the right faith.

This seems a bit contradictory to me. Muslim men can marry women 'of the book' even though their souls are basically condemned? I know Islam is supposed to pass on through the father to the children, but the wife doesn't matter?

Well, my husband is not trying to convert me. We were just having a general conversation... Actually I am not really a 'practicing' Christian because I am still exploring religion. He just encourages me to keep searching and learning until I feel satisfied... I am glad that he is supporting me in that and not trying to force his beliefs on me. He is also not strict in his practice and is willing for us to find a middle ground that works.

I was just wondering in general about this contradiction. If you read my other question in Religion and Spirituality you will see that I am questioning aspects of Chrisitanity as well. Thanks for your responses.

I've known MANY marriages in which a Muslim man married a non-Muslim wife. These almost always happen in the West, I find. Why would he do this? 1) Immigration rights 2) Status/inclusion 3) In the hopes of converting her eventually 4) He really doesn't care so much about their family's, culture's, or religion's point of view, and just want to marry her (rare!).

2 words of caution, from many cases of experience: 1) It's true that he will end up with EVERYTHING should you divorce according to Muslim law or in a Muslim country. 2) BE VERY CAREFUL about returning to his home culture with him, especially when there are kids involved. He may well revert back to his culture's norms, and you may be held prisoner there in that foreign land. I have seen this over and over and over again.

Views differ of course, but "people of the book" get to go to paradise, just as the muslims. No arguments. The exact teachings on paradise, hell and who goes to paradise and when differ and are horrible complex, so it is pointless to go into them here. Personal convictions and strictness of belief play a part too. I think your husband is just more strict than most, or is trying to convert you.

In essence: don't worry - your soul is safe. :-)

EDIT: The "right faith" ultimatively includes the Jews and Christians, because they are "people of the book". They get punished for not being Muslims, but not for non-believing bc they do believe in God. They willl be rewarded for being at least partially right. I think your husband might not be very knowledgeable about these issues (especially concerning "people of the book").

Some resources for you to look at:
http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals...
http://groups.google.com/group/soc.relig...

At soc.religion.islam look especially for the discussion between Denis Giron (who also posted as Free Thought) and the various scholars, such as Shibli, Dr. Saifullah and Moataz Emam many years ago.

The link to the hadith and the sunnah is bc most of the muslim beliefs associated with Hell and Paradise come from this source. Another source is the Iranian "Book of the Dead", a written account of oral traditions which many consider authentic, but which are not acceptable to modern Orthodox muslims.

Hmmmm ... so it means even if you are outside the "flock" you can still be saved and eventually go to paradise?

I think I shouldn't really drink too much coffee !!!

till you die, everything can happen to you. believe me, you have a husband who does love and care for you. he married you because of his love for you and hopes that God will show you the way to Allah.

do not tell me that i am contradicting myself, because i know both names refers to the Almighty, but in different faiths.

he hopes and prays you will convert with time. i will always believe in God.

From what i know, i think that if a muslim man wants to marry a non muslim woman, he'd have to convert her to islam first. Maybe im wrong but the reason its more acceptable is because the wife generally eventually follow the husband and there is the hope that she will convert and also the children will take after the patriarch of the house and will follow his religion. Hope i answered your question.

You are not the only one confused about this issue! I also married a Muslim man, from Iraq, and we have had the same conversation over and over again. The best explanation that he could give me though (he is not all to Muslim) is that in the 2nd coming of Christ, according to him, Muhammad will come with him, make Jesus deny himself, and thus all Christians will be converted to Islam. Therefore we are not all that lost.

What I really don't understand though, is why he was able to marry a Christian, but not a Jew, when Christianity is deeply rooted in Judaism...

So confusing! Best luck to you and him!

EDIT* Don't you just hate when you post a serious question about Muslim-non-Muslim marriage and people either condemn, criticize, or think that all Muslims or Arabs overall are bad and will take our kids away or make us convert? MAKES ME MAD!

it is acceptable in Islam for a Muslim man to marry a christian or a Jewish woman because in Islam it is believed that these faiths were correct before the Prophet came and brought the 'updated' version. so a Muslim man is allowed to marry women from theses faiths and i believe that even the Prophet had wives from those faiths.

Miz Al-Abaddy -- I don't see any Posts here that fit your criticism. The Asker wanted opinions, everyone gave them. Oh, so sorry that they weren't all "rah-rah-Islam-is-great"! Like Chiquita, I too have known a number of these "marriages" -- when I consider how few Muslims I really know, the fact that many of these marriages were the same as Chiquita described, it should make you wonder, not get defensive.

You have to differentiate between answers you don't like, that are inconvenient to your own lifestyles choices and beliefs, and untrue generalizations. Amazing that with all that's going on in the world -- especially the Islamic world -- this is what "MAKES YOU MAD". Did the teddy bear incident in Sudan "MAKE YOU MAD"? Just wondering.

"Muhammad will come with him, make Jesus deny himself, and thus all Christians will be converted to Islam"?

He will make Jesus "deny Himself"? Hardly likely!

Yes it is all contradictory! Because YOU CAN'T
Bare your head in public
Travel on your own
Be seen in the presence of another male
Have multiple husbands or lovers
Wear fashionable or tight fitting clothing

Lets face it you are chattel and belong to the man and do not own anything. You may have as many children as it pleases the man.
Hey look at holly old Mohamed who was a PEDOPHILE, he had a nine year old little girl as one of his wives. . . .and don't tell me that was for safe keeping her.
The sooner you realize this whole charade is for the purpose of Muslim men who can break all the rules you may not break. Please get a life and enjoy it, the whole world is passing you by. During my travels I see Muslim women suffer, bringing up children and doing all the chores, even herding and feeding the animals while their men are sitting around having nothing better to do than keeping their hands occupied with worry beads and smoking water pipes. I truly sympathize with you

You know what, Islam doesn't say all other religion will be condermed, that would be ludacris considering the fact that we acknowledge them as people of the books, God will punish the people that dont believe in him, and to the best of my knowledge, christians do believe in him, with that been said, some christians actually think Jesus is God, so thats a whole nother case. PS: this is the wrong section for ur question

Many Muslim Scholars say Jews and Christians can go to Heaven too. At the end of time Jesus will return and crush the cross. And prove that Islam is the only true religion. At that time, Jews and Christians will have to choose which side - Allah and his Prophets or their prior faith.

Its actually just like what Christianity (atleast Catholic Dogma) preaches. When Christ returns, Muslims and Jews and all gentiles will have a last chance to accept Christ as Son of God in all His Glory or be judged.

Most religions have double standards and Islam is no different. I think your husband's one of those who are completely misinterpreting the Quran and like to use it to vilify women and non-muslims who think for themselves.