Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | THE FAMILY: THE FOUNDATION OF HUMAN SOCIETYmarriage of Muslims and idol worshippers. Existing marriages remained valid,however, until the sixth year of the Islamic calendar when verses 9 and 10 of Sūrah 60were revealed, annulling such marriages once and for all.From then on, marriages involving Muslims and pagans were prohibited, as suchunions were considered devoid of spiritual meaning and non-deserving of God’sblessings or consecration, since the parties involved did not share the same beliefsand outlook on life. Having honoured mankind, God does not want marriage to bebased on mere physical attraction. It is a bond that is closely related to the divinesystem for human life.Hence, we have a clear, definitive injunction: “Do not marry women who associatepartners with God unless they embrace the true faith.” (Verse 221) Were the unbelievingwoman to embrace the faith, the barrier would be removed and the hearts of the twopeople concerned would fall into harmony and could be united in marriage as theyare united in belief.“Any believing bondwoman is certainly better than an idolatress, even though the lattermay well please you.” (Verse 221) Such attraction would normally be physical, ratherthan spiritual, and therefore superficial. It is the attraction of the soul that reallymatters, even if the Muslim girl is a slave, because it would be infinitely moreenduring and profound.“And do not give your women in marriage to men who associate partners with God unlessthey embrace the true faith. Any believing bondman is certainly better than an idolater, eventhough the latter may well please you.” (Verse 221) The same rule applies to Muslimwomen who wish to marry unbelieving men, and for the same underlying reason:“These invite to the fire; whereas God invites to paradise and to the achievement offorgiveness by His leave. He makes plain His revelations to mankind so that they may bearthem in mind.” (Verse 221)Believers and unbelievers move along two different paths: how can they meettogether in a unit that is the foundation of life? The unbelievers take the route thatleads to the fire, while those who believe in God take the way leading to Hisforgiveness and to heaven. The gap between the two is an ever-widening one.The question arises here: do these people really call to the fire? Would anyoneknowingly take himself or others towards the fire? What is highlighted here is theoutcome, shown to be the advocated objective. Hence, God warns against suchadvocacy that leads to perdition and makes plain His revelations so that people maybear them in mind. Whoever fails to take heed can blame none other than himself.It is noteworthy that Muslim men are not prohibited from marrying Christian orJewish women, despite certain important differences in religious belief and practice.This is because Muslims, Christians and Jews share a fundamental belief in God’s296