First, Islam calls upon all people to join hands and to co-operate with each other regardless of their creedal affiliations as long as all work for the betterment of humanity and there is no harm inflicted as a result of such co-operation. Of all the existing religions, Jews and Christians possess a very special status in Islam. Islam allowed the Muslim to marry a woman from among the People of the Book, but a Muslim woman, on the other hand, is NOT permitted to have a non-Muslim man as her husband. The reason is that usually the sons and daughters are ascribed to the father, and Islam’s ruling is that the son or the daughter should follow the true religion; namely Islam. The previous ruling is so inclusive in Islam.
In this context, Sheikh Zoubir Bouchikhi, Imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston’s Southeast Mosque, states the following:
“First of all, I would like to stress that Islam is the true religion of Allah (god). Muslims, are enjoined by the teachings of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, to believe in Jesus and Moses as Messengers of Allah, while the Jews and the Christians do not actually believe in Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as the last and the seal of all Prophets and Messengers of Allah. This may indicate that their beliefs are not complete, and from here came the command of Allah for NOT allowing a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man as man is responsible for his wife and children, and responsibility cannot be given to someone who is incomplete in his belief. I know that this is a little bit hard, but remember that the truth is always bitter for those who are not ready to accept it.”
Moreover, the prominent Saudi scholar Sheikh `Abdul-Rahman Al-Barrak, adds: “It is not permissible for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim, whether he is Jewish, Christian or an atheist because the man has authority over his wife, and it is not permissible for a non-Muslim to have authority over a Muslim woman. There are decisive texts from the Qur’an which refer to the prohibition of such marriage. For example, Allah Almighty says, “And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al Mushrikun (atheists) till they believe (in Allah Alone)” (Al-Baqarah: 221)
and “And never will Allah grant to the disbelievers a way (to triumph) over the believers” (An-Nisaa’: 141)