['Aalim Network QR] Mary Copt

[Ummulbanin <workshop@popmail.dircon.co.uk>]

________________________________________________________________________
|                          w           w     w                          |\
|                           ||          ||   | ||                       |\
|                    o_,_7 _||  . _o_7 _|| 4_|_||  o_w_,                |\
|                   ( :   /    (_)    /           (   .                 |\
|                                                                       |\
|           ||  ||         |  ||   |T              |     | ||    |      |\
|   . _, _8 |_D_|| . _,_,_,_D_|| 4_|| q ]_o_7_o   _|_c 4_|_||   _|,_p q |\
|  (_): /         (_): . :            /        (_S           (_S      / |\
|                                                                       |\
|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
|_______________________________________________________________________|\
Assalamu 'alaykum
The following question was answered by Mulla Bashir Rahim

Salaams & Duas
Ummulbanin Merali - Moderator - 'Aalim Network
*****************************************************************************

QUESTION:

Did Mary the Copt convert to Islam prior to marrying the Prophet (saw)?
If not, did he marry her in temporary marriage only since it is not
considered permissible to marry people of the book in permanent marriage
(or was that not the case at that time)?

In whatever case, could you quote (briefly) a reference that explains the
matter?

wasalaam

ANSWER:

I thank you for your important question.

There is some confusion as to the country of origin of Mariah the Copt. Allama
Majlisi in his Hayataul Quloob states that Mariah and her sister Sireen were
gifted to the Holy Prophet by Najashi of Abysinnia. Most of the historians,
however, agree that it was al-Muqawqis, the ruler of Alexandria, who presented
the two young maidens as gift to the Holy Prophet. In other respects the
historians do on the whole agree.

In the year 6 AH, in the month Dhul Hijjah, the Holy Prophet sent six
ambassadors to different rulers to invite them to accept Islam. Hatib bin Abi
Baltah was sent both to Najashi and al-Muqawqis. al-Muqawqis politely declined
the invitation and gave Hatib the two maidens, a donkey (Duldul) and other
gifts
to be conveyed to the Holy Prophet.

Mariah and Sireen were sisters and both professed the coptic faith. On the way
to Madinah Hatib explained to the sisters the tenets and philosophy of
Islam and
both of them accepted Islam. (Tabari, English translation,Vol.VIII, p.131).

When the Holy Prophet married Mariah she was thus already a Muslim.

As to the other issue to which you have adverted, namely the illegality of
entering in to a permanent marriage with a lady who belongs to the faith of
Ahlul Kitaab, the fuqaha are not all in agreement. Marhum Ayatullah Sayyid
Muhsin Hakeem (May Allah grant him an exalted position in jannah) held that 
it was permissible to do so. Marhum Ayatullah Sayyid Khui (May Allah grant 
him an exalted position) held that it was wajib on precautionary basis not 
to contract a permanent marriage with an Ahlul Kitaab. Sayyid Seestani 
(may Allah grant him a long and healthy life) holds that it is not 
permissible to do so and one can contract a temporary marriage only.

With salaams and du'aas from a humble servant of Ahlul Bayt and their
followers, and with a request to be remembered by you in your prayers,

Bashir Rahim