In Islam, muslim men may marry non muslim women, but not vice versa. Is this a violation of human rights?

Question

I am a European non muslim male and I am happily married to a muslim woman. We had to get married in the UK, because her Islamic state forbids our union. Am I alone in thinking that Islamic law presents a double standard by not accepting our union?

Islam presents to the world an image of tolerance and acceptance...can anyone explain this contradiction in values?

If Islam wishes to stand for moral decency, it must also stand for individual freedom, lest it continue to represent the more repressive ideologies it is currently reknowned for.

Answer 1

Every religion simply says do not have interfaith marriages regardless if it is man or woman. However, Islam permits you to marry as a Muslim man to marry a Non muslim woman (has to be Jewish or Christian). You can't do it vice versa because then the muslim woman would be in interest to covert to another religion. Islam is not repressive. Todays thinking of religion is far more racial and bigot than the religion itself. Yes, many people can have tough times dealing religion but once you understand it well and know the purpose of doing it or not doing it then you would appreciate. I am not criticizing you or your wife and faith but Islam has been thought negative because the Muslim Ummah (community) has been strangely awkward lately. Many extremists today adopted many kinds of beliefs and add blasphemous verses and ideas into the religion. Religions these days are being used vigorously from peace to war. I agree with the interfaith marriage you have and I hope for you to have a happy life together.

Answer 2

ALL organized religions give men better status and rights than women. If we have have more rights in the West as women, it is because we are not strictly following our religions and we have separated religion and law. Does giving men more rights make every religion, including Islam, morally indecent?
By the way, Muslim men cannot marry non-Muslim women either. No Muslim can marry a non-Muslim in Islam, the other party must convert. Do you realize that? Did you know that it was the same in the Catholic Church? How much do you know of your wife's religion and how much do you respect her background, upbringing, family?
You have a problem thinking the way you do.
It should be obvious to you from the answers you got, people jumping at your question to put down some people based on their religion. I have lived among Muslims, they are by no means less decent than anyone else.
Shame on you for not standing up for your wife.

Answer 3

In Islam, like most other religions, the father is responsible for the religious education of his children. For Islam, or any other religion to grow, it is essential that children are brought up in that religion.

That is the 'logic' behind the ruling but personally i do not agree with it. As far as I know, a muslim man should only marry a woman 'of the book' i.e. jewish, christian or muslim, but that is still more freedom than a muslim female is allowed.

Answer 4

I think there are two separate cultural drives in many Islamic countries. The religion is clearly important, but frequently, one gathers, at variance with practise. The practise, I believe, comes from the second driving element which is that of the honour of family and tribe. This later component all too easily pitches group against group and feeds into a testosterone driven male psyche - hence the unfortunate position of women in such communities.

Answer 5

Its difficult to say as I am not very educated in the muslim religion, however I am a muslim, and I do honestly believe that in Islam women do not have the same rights as men, but I also think that it is misinterperated as well, its all good to go and find out the religion from other people, but I think its best to find out if it really is that way. I would just like to say, every religion has their own rules and beliefs, just because of what is going on in the world out there no- one has the right to make presumtions like " Darren R" without having any knowledge about Islam, although I am not religios my religion is sacred to me and no-one has the right to presume assumptions about it, without having any knowledge, how would you feel if I judged your religions in that way without having any incite, just interpretations of peoples biased views?

Answer 6

A muslim man is so much worth more than a woman that it's easier for her to marry 'outside' even though it's not welcomed. After all, muslim women dont even get to the same heaven do they?! Most still cant practise their religion in their own mosques and if they can, it's a little back room. So the double standard is just a question of worth. A muslim man would be in really serious trouble if he chose a non-muslim wife.

Answer 7

no,this is a relgious belief. if you are a convert then she can marry you as you would be a muslim, however you are not.
it is absolutely disgusting the way most of the sad people on this question ridicule the reliogion of islam. have you not got anything better to do with your sad life? im sure if muslims started to ridicule your religion your faces would all swell up. however i guess that most of you dont even practise your religion! and you laught at others. some of are not even worthy of saying you have a religion.

Answer 8

I do think that a few countries are unfair in the way they have double standards or lesser values RE women but I guess that is all down to their religion. Religion has a lot to answer for in this day and age dont you think???

Answer 9

i am non Muslim but i have studied shariat law. on this question i have my strong views and opinion. after learning about shariat law which clearly says commands "to legitimise the marriage and for procreation of child". from this if we think deeply it means that they want to grow their population as much as possible. it is a deep rooted concept in muslims. so every girl going out of their religion is reducing the possible number of child she could procreate. so by a muslim girl going out of their caste is a way of digressing from their deep rooted concept of increasing their muslim population. muslim clearly thinks that more the population stronger they feel. so from the non muslim point of view it is violation of human rights under universal declaration of human rights however from the muslim point of view it is not a violation at all as they are trying to preserve their religion and if the world comity tries to chnage this then it will be violation of each and every muslim as they will have to change their deep rooted concept.
i hope you are satisfied with the reasoning that i gave you. cheers
regards
Rishabh G. Mastaram

Answer 10

Islam has never been known as a reasonable, rational or logical religion. So, any laws they make are automatically against human nature.