Fatwa ID: 08474
Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi
Question:
I am a Sunni Hanafi boy and want to marry a Shia girl. However, I wanted to confirm if it is permissible for me to do so or not, as I do not wish to sin in doing so. These are her beliefs as conveyed directly by her:
“In the name of Allah the most Gracious, the most Merciful. I believe that there is none of worthy worship except Allah and that the Prophet Muhammad PBUH was His final messenger. I believe that there was no mistake made by Hazrat Jibraeel in conveying the Quran to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH and that it is complete and unaltered to this day. I believe in the 12 imams and believe they were rightly guided. I believe Hazrat Ali RA should have been the first caliph after the Prophet Muhammad PBUH. However, I respect the first three caliphs as companions of the Prophet PBUH and do not curse any companions of the Prophet PBUH. I do disagree with some of the actions of the first three caliphs but in no way do I believe anyone should curse or speak ill of these companions.
I believe that prophets had a higher status than imams but that the mission of imams of preserving Islam and the sacrifices of the martyrs of Karbala was also very important. I do not slander any of the wives of the Prophet PBUH and I do not accuse Hazrat Aisha RA of adultery. I respect the beliefs of Sunnis and do not call them kaafir. I, in no way, am using taqiyah as I believe it is only to be used in scenarios where my life is in danger and in this case it is certainly not. All these are my true beliefs and I am not hiding anything. I am willing to allow my partner to follow all his beliefs as a Sunni openly as long as I am allowed to follow mine. I am willing to raise his children as Sunni as well.”
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Marriage in Islam is a serious and sacred contract. For a Sunni Muslim man, marrying a Shia woman can depend heavily on the nature of her beliefs and practices. In Hanafi Fiqh, the key conditions for the validity of a Nikāh are that both partners must be Muslim, and neither should hold beliefs that take them outside the fold of Islam. If a person’s beliefs contain elements of clear kufr (disbelief), marriage with such a person would not be valid. Therefore, analysing the beliefs of the prospective spouse is essential before proceeding.
A Sunni Muslim can marry a Shia Muslim if the Shia does not hold beliefs that contradict the core essentials of Islam (such as denying the finality of Prophethood, believing the Qur’an is incomplete, cursing major Sahaba, slandering the Prophet’s wives, etc.).
If the Shia person maintains basic Islamic beliefs — such as belief in Allah, the finality of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the unaltered Qur’an, respect for the Companions and the Prophet’s wives without cursing or slander — then they are considered Muslim, and Nikāh with them is permissible.
She believes in Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) and the finality of Prophethood. She believes the Qur’an is complete and unaltered. She respects the first three caliphs as companions, does not curse them, although she believes Ali (RA) should have been first — which is a historical disagreement, not kufr. She respects all wives of the Prophet ﷺ, especially Sayyida Aisha (RA), and does not slander them. She does not call Sunnis disbelievers. She clearly states no Taqiyyah is being used and agrees to raise children as Sunnis.
Thus, based on the information provided, she holds valid Islamic beliefs. While she identifies emotionally with the Ahl al-Bayt (Family of the Prophet), her beliefs do not violate the essentials of Islam according to the Hanafi scholars.
References:
نَقَلَ فِي الْبَزَّازِيَّةِ عَنْ الْخُلَاصَةِ أَنَّ الرَّافِضِيَّ إذَا كَانَ يَسُبُّ الشَّيْخَيْنِ وَيَلْعَنُهُمَا فَهُوَ كَافِرٌ، وَإِنْ كَانَ يُفَضِّلُ عَلِيًّا عَلَيْهِمَا فَهُوَ مُبْتَدِعٌ. اهـ.
Radd al Muhtar Vol 4 Pg 237 Maktaba Shamila
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Alimah Aisha Qureshi
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
