Fatwa ID: 05423
Answered by: Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Question
Are Mormons considered to be Ahlul Kitab?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. [1]
Mormons self-identify as Christian,[2] but some non-Mormons consider Mormons to be non-Christian [3] because some of their beliefs differ from those of Nicene Christianity. Mormons believe that Christ’s church was restored through Joseph Smith and is guided by living prophets and apostles. Mormons believe in the Bible, as well as other books of scripture, such as the Book of Mormon. They have a unique view of cosmology and believe that all people are literal spirit children of God. Mormons believe that returning to God requires following the example of Jesus Christ, and accepting his atonement through repentance and ordinances such as baptism.
Allah (عز و جل)says in the Quran;
وَلاَ تَنكِحُواْ الْمُشْرِكَاتِ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنَّ وَلأَمَةٌ مُّؤْمِنَةٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكَةٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ وَلاَ تُنكِحُواْ الْمُشِرِكِينَ حَتَّى يُؤْمِنُواْ وَلَعَبْدٌ مُّؤْمِنٌ خَيْرٌ مِّن مُّشْرِكٍ وَلَوْ أَعْجَبَكُمْ أُوْلَئِكَ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى النَّارِ وَاللّهُ يَدْعُوَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ وَالْمَغْفِرَةِ بِإِذْنِهِ وَيُبَيِّنُ آيَاتِهِ لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ ﴿٢٢١﴾
“Do not marry unbelieving women until they believe. A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though if she attracts you. And not marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe.
A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though if he attracts you. Unbelievers do (but) beckon you to the fire but Allah beckons by His grace to the garden (of bliss) and forgiveness, and makes His signs clear to mankind; that they may receive admonition.” (Surah Baqarah, Verse 221)
Allah (عز و جل)says in the Quran;
الْيَوْمَ أُحِلَّ لَكُمُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ وَطَعَامُ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ حِلٌّ لَّكُمْ وَطَعَامُكُمْ حِلُّ لَّهُمْ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنَاتِ وَالْمُحْصَنَاتُ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ إِذَا آتَيْتُمُوهُنَّ أُجُورَهُنَّ مُحْصِنِينَ غَيْرَ مُسَافِحِينَ وَلاَ مُتَّخِذِي أَخْدَانٍ وَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالإِيمَانِ فَقَدْ حَبِطَ عَمَلُهُ وَهُوَ فِي الآخِرَةِ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ ﴿٥﴾
This day the good and clean things are made lawful for you. And the food of those who have been given the Book is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And the chaste from among the believing free women and the chaste from among those who have been given the Book before you are lawful for you when you have given them their marriage portion, taking them in marriage, not fornicating nor taking secret lovers. And whoever denies the Faith, his work indeed is vain, and in the Hereafter, he shall be one of the losers. (Surah Maidah, Verse 5)
Nowadays Christians and Jews are atheists and to marry an atheist woman is not permissible.
If after thorough research it is known a Christian or a Jewish woman is not atheist, then although it is permissible to marry her. Since there are other dangers involved, it is Wajib to abstain from it. For example, there is a great danger of the children becoming disbelievers, also the Deen of the husband itself is not exempted from being in danger.
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormons#cite_note-10
[2]Mormons in America: Certain in Their Beliefs, Uncertain of Their Place in Society
[3] Is Mormonism Christian?
[4] Ahsanul Fatawaa, Mufti Rashid Ahmad, Page 89-90/5, HM Saeed Company, Adab Manzil, Karachi, Pakistan
