A Muslim man is allowed to marry a Jewish or a Christian woman with the condition of chastity. No details were given by the Quran or the prophet (peace be upon him) in relation to the level of their religious practices. Some companions made it prohibited based on circumstances like `Umar when he told Abu `Ubaidah to divorce his newly Christian wife explaining that no men will be available to marry Muslim women if one leader like Abu `Ubaidah set an example.

 

Some scholars say that only if you live in a place where you can guarantee the well-being religious identity of your kids and that in case of divorce the non-Muslim wife will not change their faith away from Islam.

 

In short, it is permissible with one condition that Allah said in Qur’an that they must be muhsanat or protecting their honor. All other conditions are points of views in relation to environment and time and can change relatively.

 

Almighty Allah knows best.