Posted by Anja on March 17, 1998 at 21:19:49:
In Reply to: Re: catholic women and muslim men posted by Christoph Heger on March 17, 1998 at 11:14:49:
Hi Christoph, hi Christina,
I want to begin this reply with a remark. In Islam it is a grave sin to give misinformation
especially about God`s religion. If I don`t know about something for sure, I should at least
state the fact of being uncertain, or stay silent about it.
Sometimes when reading posts like the one I am replying to, I am asking myself what the
Christian`s stand is in this matter???
To come to the subject:
Christian wives of Muslim men have the right to practise their faith freely. The husband
agrees on this by marrying her as a Christian woman. He even has to take his Christian
wife to church once a week, if she doesn`t have any other possibility to get there, and to
attend the service is part of her religious life.
A Muslim husband can leave by will up to 1/3 of his inheritance to his wife. That is the
same for a Muslim or Christian wife. No difference at all.
The problem of not being entitled to inheritance occurs only in cases without will. In that
case a Muslim wive inherits 1/8 (I think that amount is depending on if there are children
or not. Without children it might be higher, though I am not sure about that.), a Christian
wife would not inherit.
Being of a different religion does mean belonging to a different support system. Because
of that there is no "right" to inherit. I e.g. won`t inherit from my parents (non-Muslims) if
they don`t make a will. That`s so in Islamic law. My parent`s don`t know that yet. And
actually I don`t have any idea yet how to tell them. They think I will inherit as my brother
anyhow. Well, got sidetraced. Just to show, that this is working vice versa. It shouldn`t
matter in this case though, as there is the way with the will as stated above.
About the child kidnapping, that one also works vice versa. Who would be taking the
children from whom? What Muslim husband would be able to get his children out of what
Western country legally? There is no difference on that one. The risk is equally high for
both parties. May God save any couple from getting in such a situation.
I do think the marriage contract is a good idea though. In Islam marriage is generally a
contract.
Also the question of what religion the children take is the same from either viewpoint.
Yes, Muslim men are obliged to raise their children as Muslims. Catholics are obliged by
the church to raise their children Catholics in marriages with non Catholics. I had a school
friend, whose one parent raised him protestant. The other parent, a Catholic, didn`t have
any problem with this. The church wrote a letter and complained about it. Well, so where
is the difference? Islam is not worse. This is just a matter, which will need reflection, best
BEFORE the children are there.
That Muslims leaving Islam will be "usual" killed by their fellow Muslims isn`t right, neither
according to Islamic law nor common happening. Look around in the Western countries.
There are even Pakistani churches in the states. Christian missionaries focus on the
second generation immigrant Muslims. Pity! But the converts are living anyhow.
Christoph, You say:
"Fortunately, the father was dead, already, when the mullahs seized power in Iran"
Christoph, that is the only case that didn`t end in a catastrophe You know of? Fotunately
the husband died and left wive and two daughters? Well ...
Anyhow,
I hope to have helped to clearify that matter. I don`t say it will be easy, but let`s at least
stay with the facts...
Anja