Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
In Islam, marriage to an atheist is invalid because faith is the foundation of a lawful marriage. The Qur’an forbids Muslims from marrying those who reject belief in Allah. Scholars unanimously agree that such contracts are void, as Islam requires shared belief to protect the sanctity of marriage and faith.
Responding to your question, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Marriage to an atheist is entirely invalid in Islam. A sound faith and strong character are foundational criteria for a righteous marriage. The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of marrying someone with strong faith, as women, by nature, can be more vulnerable, and their beliefs can be influenced.
Therefore, it is essential to avoid marrying someone with weak or no faith, thinking that you can change them through your influence.
Marriage to an atheist is not just discouraged but outright prohibited. Such a marriage contract is void and invalid.
A Muslim woman cannot marry a non-believer, even with the hope that he might eventually embrace Islam. This principle is exemplified by the noble companion, Umm Sulaym, who refused to marry Abu Talhah until he accepted Islam. When he did, she received one of the most significant dowries in Islam, as narrated by Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) in a Hadith reported by An-Nasa’i (3341), authenticated by Al-Albani.
The prohibition against a Muslim woman marrying a non-Muslim is clearly established and unanimously agreed upon by scholars. Allah says in the Quran: {O you who have believed, when believing women come to you as emigrants, test them… If you know them to be believers, do not return them to the disbelievers. They are not lawful for them, nor are they lawful for them…} (Al-Mumtahanah 60:10)
Furthermore, Allah commands: {And do not marry polytheist women until they believe… And do not marry polytheist men until they believe…} (Al-Baqarah 2:221)
In conclusion, marriage to an atheist is invalid in Islam. It’s contradictory and ironic for someone to claim conversion to Islam while rejecting belief in Allah. True Islam is founded on the Oneness of Allah, acknowledging His sovereignty and lordship. Without embracing these core beliefs, no one can be considered a true Muslim.
Therefore, any marriage with an atheist—no matter their claims—is in direct contradiction to the core teachings of Islam.
The following fatwas provide more thorough explanations:
- Does Marrying Non Muslim Nullify Woman’s Islam?
- Why Muslim Woman Cannot Marry Non Muslim Man
- I Love a Christian Man: Can I Marry Him?
- Can I Marry Christian Girl Intending to Convert?
- My Daughter Married a Non-Muslim Man: What Should I Do?
- Can a Muslim Man Marry a Sikh Woman?
- Muslim Women Cannot Marry Non-Muslim Men: Why?
Almighty Allah knows best.