Interfaith Marriage Among Muslim Minorities: A Comparative Legal Analysis

Nur Solikin; Ahmad Nizar Mohammad Syamwil; Alvin Suadi; Afif Sabil; Mohammad Firmansyah

doi:10.35719/ijlil.v7i2.464

Authors

Nur Solikin State Islamic University of Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Indonesia
Ahmad Nizar Mohammad Syamwil Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Alvin Suadi Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Mesir
Afif Sabil Ibrahimy University, Situbondo, Indonesia
Mohammad Firmansyah Nurul Qarnain College of Sharia Sciences, jember, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35719/ijlil.v7i2.464

Keywords:

Interfaith Marriage, Muslim Minorities, Ibn Bayyah, Yusri Ibrahim

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the differences in opinion between Abdullah ibn Bayyah and Muhammad Yusri Ibrahim regarding interfaith marriage among Muslim minorities. This study uses normative legal research by adopting a comparative approach to identify the similarities and differences in the thinking of these two figures. The results of this study show that the differences in opinion between Abdullah ibn Bayyah and Muhammad Yusri Ibrahim regarding cases of interfaith marriage are influenced by their respective views, which combine several legal principles. In the case of “the validity of marriage if one of the spouses converts to Islam,” Yusri Ibrahim prefers the opinion of Ibn Qayyim as the main figure of the Hanbali school of thought, without considering Qaul al-Ṣahābī as an argument (hujjah). This differs from Ibn Bayyah, who uses Qaul al-Ṣahābī as an argument (hujjah) in accordance with the Maliki school of thought. Ibn Bayyah does not discuss the limits of taisīr (ease) in interfaith marriage issues at length. However, in terms of application, both figures agree on setting burdensome conditions. Ibn Bayyah prioritizes a deep discussion of maṣlaḥah (public interest), with various considerations, and explores more universal and facilitative concepts. Thus, his opinion is more flexible and easier to apply to cases of interfaith marriage in Singapore. Ibn Bayyah's opinion is based on considerations of the social reality of minority Muslims, so that his legal decisions are not textual and are more cautious. This differs from Yusri Ibrahim's opinion, which tends to be stricter and more difficult to apply in countries with non-Muslim majorities. This is because most of his opinion is very textual, following the foundations of Islamic law and his school of thought, without considering the public interest and the social realities of minority Muslims. The practical implications of this research have an impact on the legality of giving inheritance to wives or children who are not Muslim, and the right of a father to be the marriage guardian for his daughter, based on the opinion of Ibn Bayyah. This study suggests that the fiqh formulations of contemporary scholars on interfaith marriage can serve as a guideline for Muslim minorities in Western countries by taking social realities into account.

References

Administrator. “Muslim Inheritance Law – Faraid.” I.R.B. Law LLP. Last modified 2025. Accessed October 31, 2025. https://irblaw.com.sg/learning-centre/muslim-inheritance-law-faraid/.

———. “Muslim Inheritance Law in Singapore.” Singapore Legal Advice.Com. Last modified 2024. Accessed October 31, 2025. https://singaporelegaladvice.com/law-articles/muslim-inheritance-law-in-singapore/.

Akram, Munazza. “Issues of Muslim Minorities in Non-Muslim Societies: An Appraisal of Classical and Modern Islamic Legal Discourses with Reference to Fiqh Al-Aqalliyyāt.” Islamic Studies 58, no. 1 (2019): 107–125.

Al-Āmudi, Muḥammad. Al-Iḥkām Fī Uṣūli Al-Aḥkām. Riyāḍ: Dār as-Ṣāmi’i, 2003.

Al-Ardabil, Yusuf. Al-Anwar Li A’mal Al-Abrar. Damaskus: Dâr al-Dhiya li Nashr wa Tauzi’, 2006.

Al-Haitami, Ibn Ḥajar. Tuḥfatu Al-Muḥtāj Fī Syarḥi Al-Minhāj. Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1996.

Al-Jauziyah, Ibn Qayyim. Ahkam Ahl Al-Dzimmah. Kairo: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah, 1995.

Al-Khatib, Ahmad bin Abdul Latif. Hasyiyah Al-Nafahat `Ala Syarh Al-Waraqat. 2nd ed. Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah, 2013.

Al-Tirmidzi, Abu ‘Isa. Sunan Al-Tirmidzi. Beirut: Dar al-Gharbi, 1999.

Anwar, Khoirul, Hilmi Ridho, Muhammad Sibawaihi, Muhamad Sofi Mubarok, and Aizat Khairi. “Muslim Minorities in the Context of Citizenship in Western Countries According to Fiqh Al-Aqalliyat; Challenges and Obligations.” Tribakti: Jurnal Pemikiran Keislaman 36, no. 1 (2025): 1–24.

Asy’ari, and Triansyah Fisa. “Interfaith Marriage in Perspectives of Classical and Modern Scholars.” Al-Manahij: Jurnal Kajian Hukum Islam 16, no. 2 (2022): 287–300.

Bayyah, Abdullah bin Syekh Mahfudz bin. Shina’ah Al-Fatwa Wa Fiqh Al-Qaliyyat. Dubai: Muwaththa Centre, 2018.

Bone, Amra. “Islamic Marriage and Divorce in the United Kingdom: The Case for a New Paradigm.” Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs 40, no. 1 (2020): 163–178.

Bretault, François. “Challenges of Interfaith Families in Singapore, and Beyond.” Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News). Last modified 2023. Accessed October 31, 2025. https://www.ucanews.com/news/challenges-of-interfaith-families-in-singapore-and-beyond/103178.

Elmali-Karakaya, Ayse. “Interfaith Marriage in Islam: Classical Islamic Resources and Contemporary Debates on Muslim Women’s Interfaith Marriages †.” Religions 13, no. 8 (2022): 1–21.

Elmali, Ayse, and Karakaya. “Being Married to a Non-Muslim Husband: Religious Identity in Muslim Women’s Interfaith Marriage.” In Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 388–410. Leiden: Brill, 2020.

Faizal, Liky, Moh. Yasir Fauzi, Mohd. Khairi Kamaruddin, and Abd. Qohar. “Challenges in Interfaith Marriage: Literature Review of Faith Values and Their Implications for Families.” Samarah: Jurnal Hukum Keluarga dan Hukum Islam 9, no. 2 (2025): 965–988.

Firmansyah, Mohammad, Hilmi Ridho, Aizat Khairi, Sofiatus Sobriyah, and Rahwan. “When Traditional Meets Modern Pedagogies: A Case Study of Ma`had Aly Situbondo.” EDUKASI: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Agama Dan Keagamaan 23, no. 1 (2025): 192–207.

Haji, Reeshma. “Interfaith Marriage in North America and Abroad.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion, edited by John Barton, 350–367. England: Oxford University Press, 2023.

Hasan, Akhmad Faroh, Sholahuddin Al Fatih, Suryanto Siyo, Haris, and Asrul Ibrahim Nur. “Interfaith Marriage in Indonesia’S Law: A Comparative Study of Tafsir Al-Misbah and Al-Maraghi.” Petita: Jurnal Kajian Ilmu Hukum dan Syariah 10, no. 1 (2025): 322–337.

Hazaymeh, Omar Mohammad-Ameen Ahmad. “Muslim Representation in European Parliaments in the XXIst Century: Societal Integration or Political Necessity?” Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies 24, no. 71 (2025): 45–59.

Hussaini, Sayed Aqeel, and Mohammad Nasser Vaezi. “The Scientific Authority of the Ahl Al-Bayt (as) in the Qur’ān Sayed.” Journal of Ahl al-Bayt (as) Teachings 2, no. 3 (2024): 41–58.

Hussin, Mohd Norhusairi Mat, Nur Haleemah Binte Salihudin, Siti Aisyah Samudin, Risma Nur Arifah, Norazlina Abdul Aziz, and Zunairah Malee. “Interfaith Marriage Among Muslims in Singapore.” Al-`adalah 22, no. 1 (2025): 1–28.

Ibrahim, Muhammad Yusri bin. Fiqh Al-Nawazil, Lil Aqalliyat Al-Muslimah; Ta’shilan Wa Tathbiqan. Qatar: Wizarah Awqaf Wa Su’un Al Islamiyyah, 2013.

Jamil, M. “The Quran on Marriage: Indonesian Interpreters Perspectives on Marriage of Muslim with Polytheist.” International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention 6, no. 7 (2017): 9–12.

Karimullah, Suud Sarim. “Agus Moh. Najib’s Project and Ushul Fiqh Redesign: Interlinking of Islamic Law and Legal Sciece.” Al-Mazaahib: Jurnal Perbandingan Hukum 11, no. 2 (2023): 139–159.

———. “The Implications of Islamic Law on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Muslim-Majority Countries.” MILRev: Metro Islamic Law Review 2, no. 2 (2023): 90–114.

Kim, Heewon. “Reinforcing the Path: The Paradox of Failed Reform in India’s Minority Policies (2004–2024).” Journal of Contemporary Asia 0, no. 0 (2025): 1–26.

Marzuki, Peter Mahmud. Penelitian Hukum. Jakarta: Kencana Prenada Group, 2007. https://books.google.co.id/books?id=CKZADwAAQBAJ&printsec=copyright#v=onepage&q&f=false.

Maula, Bani Syarif, and Ilyya Muhsin. “Interfaith Marriage and the Religion–State Relationship: Debates between Human Rights Basis and Religious Precepts.” Samarah 8, no. 2 (2024): 791–820.

Muntaqo, Lutfan. “Islamic Thoughts on Interfaith Marriage in Local and Global Context.” Manarul Qur’an: Jurnal Ilmiah Studi Islam 20, no. 1 (2020): 69–79.

Nasir, Mohamad Abdun. “Negotiating Muslim Interfaith Marriage in Indonesia: Integration and Conflict in Islamic Law.” Mazahib Jurnal Pemikiran Hukum Islam 21, no. 2 (2022): 155–186.

Nasir, Nazirudin Mohd, Izal Mustafa, Mohd Murat Md Aris, Fadhil Azman, and Nurul ‘Ain Razali. Fatwas of Singapore Volume 2: Inheritance and Estate Planning. Singapore: Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura, 2024.

Ng, Bee Chin, Mei Jing Jo Tan, Anne Pauwels, and Francesco Cavallaro. “Language Practices in Malay-Chinese Families in Singapore.” Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development 45, no. 8 (2024): 2940–2960.

Nuruddin, Amiur, Ahmad Qarib, Azwani L, and Muhammad Faisal Hamdani. “Relationship of Interfaith in Tunisia (Critical Study of Ibn ‘Ashur Tafsir W.1973).” Budapest International Research and Critics Institute (BIRCI-Journal) : Humanities and Social Sciences 2, no. 1 (2019): 353–372.

Rahman, Mohamad Zulkifli bin Abd, and Mustafa bin Mat Jubri @ Shamsuddin. “Principle of Consideration of the Consequences (Iʿtibār Al- Maʾālāt) on the Conflicting Fatāwā in Malaysia about the Interfaith Marriage between Muslims and the Women from the People of the Book: A Comparative Juristic Analysis.” International Journal of Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh Studies 9, no. 1 (2025): 114–128.

Rajafi, Ahmad, Arif Sugitanata, and Vinna Lusiana. “The ‘Double-Faced’ Legal Expression: Dynamics and Legal Loopholes in Interfaith Marriages in Indonesia.” Journal of Islamic Law 5, no. 1 (2024): 19–43.

Razzaq, Abu Bakar Abdul. Mushannaf ‘Abd. Al-Razaq. Malaysia: Majelis Ulya, 1970.

Rida, M. Rasyid. Al-Manar. Beirut: Dar al-Maarif, 1998.

Ridho, Hilmi, Hamim Maftuh Elmi, and Muhammad Sibawaihi. “Fiqh Al-Aqalliyat; Jurisprudence For Muslim Minorities As A Guide To Living In Non-Muslim Countries.” Syariah: Jurnal Hukum dan Pemikiran 23, no. 1 (2023): 93–106.

Ridho, Hilmi, and Debi Fajrin Habibi. “Al-Turast Wa Al-Tajdid; Telaah Atas Pemikiran Hasan Hanafi Tentang Tradisi Dan Pembaharuan Ajaran Islam Di Era Digital.” Indonesian Journal of Cyber Education 1, no. 1 (2023): 40–53.

Ridho, Hilmi, Afif Sabil, Mohammad Firmansyah, Febri Hijroh Mukhlis, and Aizat Khairi. “Interpretation of the Qur’an from Classical-Textual to Contemporary-Contextual ; An Approach Proposed by Muslim Scholars.” QiST: Journal of Quran and Tafseer Studies 4, no. 2 (2025): 645–674.

Sa’i, M. “Interfaith Marriage in the Perspective of the Qur’ān: An Analysis of Social Interpretation of a Pluralistic Society in Indonesia.” Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization (JITC) 15, no. 1 (2025): 385–400.

Sābiq, Sayyid. Fiqh Al-Sunnah. Beirut: Dār al-Fikr, 1985.

Sabjan, Muhammad Azizan, and Noor Shakirah Mat Akhir. “The Conceit of the People of the Book (Ahl Al-Kitab) In Islamic Religious Tradition.” Afkar: Jurnal Akidah Dan Pemikiran Islam 6, no. 1 (2005): 15–36.

Shahroodi, Abdullah Ahmadi, and Ali Kolagar. “The Presumption of Continuity (Al-Istiṣḥāb) in Conceptual Doubts.” Principles of Jurisprudence 6, no. 9 (2023): 95–106.

Shaibah, Abi. Al-Musanaf Abi Shaibah. Kairo: al-Faruq al-Hadisiyah li Thaba’ah wa Nashr, 2007.

Soekanto, Soerjono, and Sri Mamuji. Penelitian Hukum Normatif: Suatu Tinjauan Singkat. Jakarta: Raja Grafindo Persada, 2013.

Suyaman, Prahasti, and Temmy Fitriah Alfiany. “Polemics of Interfaith Marriage Reviewed from the Perspectives of Marriage Law and the Compilations of Islamic Law.” In International Conference on Law Reform (3rd INCLAR), 3:537–549. Dubai: KnE Social Sciences, 2022.

Tezcan, Tolga. “Gender Gap in Religiosity and Interfaith Marriage Attitudes: Muslim Migrants in Germany.” International Journal of Intercultural Relations 102, no. June 2023 (2024): 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2024.102040.

Wahib, Moh. “Implementation of the Minority Fiqh Concept for the Papuan Muslim Community.” De Jure: Jurnal Hukum dan Syar’iah 13, no. 1 (2021): 97–112.

Zin, Najibah Mohd, Hidayati Mohamed Jani, Abdul Ghafur Hamid, and Nora Abdul Hak. “Jurisdictional Conflict in Interfaith Child Custody Disputes: A Legal Discourse in Malaysian Courts.” Al-Shajarah: Journal of the International Institute of Islamic Thought & Civilization 24, no. 1 (2019): 1–24.

Zubair, and Muhammad Faisal Hamdani. “The Qur’an and Muslim Men’s Marriages to Women of the People of the Book (Ahl Kitab) (an Interpretive Essay of Ahl Kitab on Qur’an 5:5).” Cogent Arts and Humanities 12, no. 1 (2025): 1–11.