سورة البقرة

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): After Allah, in the verse وَ لا تَنْکِحُوا الْمُشْرِکاتِ حَتَّی یُؤْمِنَّ [And do not marry the idolatresses until they believe], had forbidden marriage with the polytheists, in the verse وَ الْمُحْصَناتُ مِنَ الَّذِینَ أُوتُوا الْکِتابَ مِنْ قَبْلِکُمْ [And the chaste women from among those who were given the Book before you] marriage with the People of the Book who pay their obligatory jizya is permitted; but if they live in the land of unbelief and do not pay the jizya, marriage with them is not permitted.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Allah made marriage with the women of the People of the Book lawful only when the number of Muslim women is few; and when Muslim women become many, Allah the Mighty and Majestic said: وَ لا تَنْکِحُوا الْمُشْرِکاتِ حَتَّی یُؤْمِنَّ [And do not marry the idolatresses until they believe], and He said: وَ لا تُمْسِکُوا بِعِصَمِ الْکَوافِرِ [And never hold on to the ties of marriage with disbelieving women] (Mumtahana/10). And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) forbade a Muslim man from marrying a non-Muslim woman if a Muslim woman can be found; and a polytheist man cannot marry a Muslim woman.

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): The Muslims used to marry the People of the Book, Jews and Christians, until this verse was revealed and forbade a Muslim from marrying an idolater, or giving a Muslim [woman] in marriage to an idolater [man]. Then in Surah al-Ma'ida He sent down words that abrogated this verse: "وَ طَعامُ الَّذِینَ أُوتُوا الْکِتابَ حِلٌّ لَکُمْ وَ طَعامُکُمْ حِلٌّ لَهُمْ وَ الْمُحْصَناتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِناتِ وَ الْمُحْصَناتُ مِنَ الَّذِینَ أُوتُوا الْکِتابَ مِنْ قَبْلِکُمْ [And [likewise] the food of the People of the Book is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them, and [also] the chaste women from the Muslims and the chaste women from the People of the Book are lawful]" (al-Ma'ida/5). So He, the Mighty and Majestic, permitted marriage with them after having forbidden it, and He left His words "وَ لا تُنْکِحُوا الْمُشْرِکِینَ حَتَّی یُؤْمِنُوا [And do not give (believing women) in marriage to idolaters until they believe]" as they were and did not abrogate them. So this is a permission by which part of what was forbidden becomes permitted after the prohibition.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): This verse has been abrogated by two verses: "وَ لا تَنْکِحُوا الْمُشْرِکاتِ حَتَّی یُؤْمِنَّ [And do not marry the idolatresses until they believe]" and "وَ لا تُمْسِکُوا بِعِصَمِ الْکَوافِر [And do not hold to the marriage ties of disbelieving women]" (al-Mumtahina/10).

Ali ibn Ibrahim (may Allah have mercy on him): The verse "وَ لا تَنْکِحُوا الْمُشْرِکاتِ حَتَّی یُؤْمِنَّ [And do not marry the idolatresses until they believe]" has been abrogated by the verse "وَ الْمُحْصَناتُ مِنَ الَّذِینَ أُوتُوا الْکِتابَ مِنْ قَبْلِکُمْ [And the chaste women from among those who were given the Book before you]". And this word of Allah, "وَ لا تُنْکِحُوا الْمُشْرِکِینَ حَتَّی یُؤْمِنُوا [And do not give (believing women) in marriage to idolaters until they believe]", has not been abrogated and remains as it is.

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): Hasan ibn Jahm said: Imam Rida (peace be upon him) said to me: "O Aba Muhammad! Can a man who has a Muslim wife marry a Christian woman?" I said to him: "May I be your ransom! What meaning does my answering have in your presence?" He said: "You give your view; for from your answer, my answer will also become clear." I said: "It is not permissible for a man who has a Muslim wife or a non-Muslim wife to marry a Christian woman." He said: "What is the proof of that?" I said: "Because Allah says: وَلاَ تَنکِحُواْ الْمُشْرِکَاتِ حَتَّی یُؤْمِنَّ [And do not marry the idolatresses until they believe]." He said: "What is your view about the verse: 'وَ الْمُحْصَناتُ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِناتِ وَ الْمُحْصَناتُ مِنَ الَّذِینَ أُوتُوا الْکِتابَ مِنْ قَبْلِکُمْ [And the chaste women from the Muslims, and the chaste women from the People of the Book, are lawful]' (al-Ma'ida/5)?" I said to him: "This verse has been abrogated by the verse: وَلاَ تَنکِحُواْ الْمُشْرِکَاتِ." He smiled and remained silent.