Prohibition of a Muslim Woman Marrying a Non-Muslim

It is haram for a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man, regardless
of whether he is of the People of the Bookor not. Allah Almighty says
in Quran,
"...And do not marry (your girls) to idolaters until they believe...."
( Surah 2: Verse 221)
And He said concerning the immigrant Muslim women,
"...Then if you know them to be Believers, do not send them back to
the unbelievers. They are not halal for them (as wives), nor are they
halal for them (as husbands)." ( Surah 60: Verse 10)
No text exists which makes exceptions for the People of the Book,
hence, on the basis of the above verses, there is a consensus among
Muslims concerning this prohibition. Thus, while a Muslim man is
permitted to marry a Christian or Jewish woman, aMuslim woman is not
allowedto marry a Christian or Jewish man.
There are many sound reasons for this difference. First, the man is
thehead of the household, the one who maintains the family, and he is
responsible for his wife. And while Islam guaranteesfreedom of belief
and practiceto the Christian or Jewish wife of a Muslim, safeguarding
her rights according to her own faith, other religions, such as
Judaism and Christianity, do not guarantee the wife of a different
faith freedom of belief and practice, nor do they safeguard her
rights.
Since this is the case, how can Islam take chances on the future of
its daughters by giving them into the hands of people who neither
honor their religion nor are concerned to protect their rights? A
marriage between a man and woman of different faiths can be based only
on thehusband's respect for his wife's beliefs; otherwise a good
relationship cannever develop.
Now, the Muslim believes that both Judaism and Christianity originated
in divine revelation, although later distortions were introduced into
them. He also believes that God revealed theTaurat to Mosesand
theInjeel to Jesus, (Taurat refers to the original scripture revealed
to the Prophet Moses by God, and Injeel to the Prophet Isa (Jesus).
These are not to be confused with either the existing Torah or Old
Testament, or the four Gospels of the New Testament.
Accordingly, the Christian or Jewish wife of a Muslim lives under
theprotectionof a man who respects the basic tenets of her faith, her
scripture, and her prophets, while in contrast to this the Jew or
Christian recognizes neither the divine origin of Islam, its Book, or
its Prophet (peace be on him). How then could a Muslim woman live with
such a man, while her religion requires of her the observance of
certain worships, duties, and obligations, as well as certain
prohibitions.
It would be impossible for the Muslim woman to retain her respect for
her beliefs as well as topractice her religionproperly if she were
opposed in this regard by the master of the house at every step. It
will be realized from this thatIslam is consistentwith itself in
prohibiting the Muslim man to marry a mushrik woman, for since Islam
is absolutely opposed to shirk, it would obviously be impossible for
two such people to live together inharmony and love.