A Woman New to Islam May Marry after Six Menstrual Periods

Question

A certain woman is non-Muslim and married, and this woman also has children from her non-Muslim husband. But a Muslim wants to live with this woman, and the woman also wants to live with him. The woman says: “I am neither Hindu nor Muslim.” Yet she applies a ritual forehead mark, i.e. there is an admixture of shirk in her; and this worthless Muslim has abandoned the prayer, even the Friday prayer.

Answer

If the two are living together, they should be separated immediately, and the woman should accept Islam and give up the forehead mark and other polytheistic things. When she has menstruated six times, her nikah should be performed with this Muslim; until then the woman should stay in some other safe place. She should gradually go on learning the kalima, the prayer, and so on.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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