Recently, Allahabad High Court ruled that a non-Muslim bride must convert to Islam to marry a Muslim. If the bride does not convert, the bride’s marriage with a Muslim man would be void. There is nothing new or sensational about this as this was and is being practiced by Muslims all over the world.
In fact, this is clearly stated in Quran as well. The following is an excerpt from the Quran.
(2:221): Do not marry unbelieving women (idolaters), until they believe: A slave woman who believes is better than an unbelieving woman, even though she allures you. Nor marry (your girls) to unbelievers until they believe: A man slave who believes is better than an unbeliever, even though he allures 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 celebrate His praise.
The Quran itself prohibits Muslim men and women from marrying those who do not believe in Allah. This raises two important questions.
Firstly, how fair is it to force a person, irrespective of gender, to change his/her faith to marry somebody the person loves? Why should a person choose between faith and love? Can’t the person have both?
Secondly, when there is a contradiction between the law of the land and the sharia law, which one should prevail? If it is the sharia law, aren’t we forcing certain sect of people to give up their religion? When the law itself forces religion on to the people, can we really call ourselves secular?
What do you think?