Should Muslim men be allowed to marry your women?

[Sam Arcot]

Ever since the doors of immigrations have opened in the west, Muslim and Christian engagements have grown significantly. Which is supposed to be a good thing because of the possibility of better offspring. But the sad part is, in most marriages the husbands are Muslim and wives are Christians. Even in my orthodox family, the engagements with white Christian women (apologies if I sound racist) goes back to 30 years when one of my uncles married a white American and had her converted to Islam. The marriage didn't last long but she left him two amazing kids who were brought up as Muslims. Almost all of my Muslims friends have some male relative married to a white converted American or European. While on the other hand, I have never seen a Muslim women getting married to a Christian or Atheist westerner. I feel it is really unfair. While the intermarriages between the two communities is a good thing and should be encouraged for a secular next generation, the system should allow both genders to equally engage with each other. The hijab system of Islam eliminates any possibility for a non-Muslim to court a Muslim women. While the feminist society of the West encourages women to have flings with Muslims as it does with other men (nothing wrong with other men). As an atheist, I feel the women in the west are being unfair by allowing Muslims to lay with them. Because when the Muslims do not allow others to even gaze on their ladies, they should also be restricted to court women of other communities as a punishment. Muslim men are stealing the genes from other communities. The children from such couples are usually Islamic. I understand that West is all about freedom and it is the women's choice whom she chooses and whom she rejects. But shouldn't they be educated and discouraged from dating conservative Muslims?

[knot]

I dont think it is a good idea to take away people's rights when they haven't done anything wrong. But in the west I think we have been too lenient towards stupid ideas like religion. People are especially afraid to criticize the religion of a minority group who have a different skin color, so they dont hold Muslims to the same standard as e.g. Christian creationists -- this is hypocritical. When we will be able to openly make fun of the Qu'ran I think a lot of the bad cultural elements will automatically start to go away, and the problem will fix itself. Until then we have to resist very hard when someone wants more censorship and blasphemy laws. I think we have been asleep at the wheel quite frankly, and already lost a lot in terms of freedom of expression

[Classic]

A close relative of mine married a Christian Englishman (who's vegetarian by the way). But you're right; the percentage of the other way round is more popular.

However, you don't seem to be aware of this important point: According to Islam, Muslims are not allowed to marry non-Muslims. This is applied in many Muslim-majority country. And yes, my relative couldn't marry him unless he professes being a Muslim and goes through the necessary requirements of officially changing his faith.

Muslim scholars make a few distinctions in this issue though because of, you know, tafseer (i.e. how to explain the verses). They may allow marrying a Christian or a Jew under several restrictions, for example he/she can't marry a non-virgin. However, according to Muslims scriptures, I am sure you are not allowed to marry a(n) atheist/pagan/ex-religious...etc

You may want to check the Quran 2:221:

And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you. And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe. And a believing slave is better than a polytheist, even though he might please you. Those invite [you] to the Fire, but Allah invites to Paradise and to forgiveness, by His permission. And He makes clear His verses to the people that perhaps they may remember.