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Fatwa CenterVirgin Muslim Male Wants to Marry a Non-Virgin Non-Muslim
Question
I am a (virgin) Muslim male. I have a non-Muslim female friend who I've known for a while. I know that she has committed fornication in the past. I've tried over and over to cut relations with her but I can't because I have very strong feelings for her. I am afraid to commit Zina. I want to marry her. Does that make me a fornicator? I'm very afraid of committing Zina and I don't want to anger Allah. Also, we don't want everyone in the community to know about our marriage. I know we need two witnesses but what else do we need to get married? And do the witnesses have to be Muslim?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
Dear Muslim brother, you should fear Allah as He should be feared. You should hurry to make sincere repentance! You are also strongly advised to fear the Punishment of Allah much. Do not put yourself at risk before the Anger of Allah and His Severe Punishment just to enjoy something forbidden, repulsive and a temporary pleasure, while Allah has legislated what is lawful, best way to satisfy yourself; the way that Allah loves, and He grants a good reward for everyone who adheres to what is lawful and refrains from what is unlawful. You should keep away from this woman who has a bad history and should run away from her as you would from a deadly contagious disease. Do not pay any attention to the insinuation of the Satan that you cannot find a woman like her. There are many pious, chaste and good looking Muslim women. They are good and suitable to be chosen as a life partner. Also, they are helpful and able to provide a peaceful future for you and your offspring as well. Surely, you are aware of the incurable diseases contracted from illicit relations with fornicators and whores. Note, that if the woman mentioned in your question is a polytheist; i.e. not from the People of the Book, then marrying her is not permissible under any circumstances.
Allah Says (what means): {And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe. And a believing slave woman is better than a polytheist, even though she might please you.} [Quran 2:221]
Marrying a woman from the People of the Book is permissible only if she is chaste; i.e. does not commit Zina (illegal sexual intercourse). This condition is not met in your case.
Allah Says in this concern (what means): {…and the food of those who were given the Scripture is lawful for you and your food is lawful for them. And [lawful in marriage are] chaste women from among the believers and chaste women from among those who were given the Scripture before you, when you have given them their due compensation, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse or taking [secret] lovers.} [Quran 5:5]
Allah made chastity a basic condition to marry a Jewish or Christian woman. Moreover, a valid marriage contract is the one that is conducted with the presence and consent of the guardian of the woman, presence of two reliable witness, and Mahar (bridal money) agreed upon (specified).
For more benefit on the conditions of a valid marriage in Islam, please refer to Fataawa 82072, 82623, 339433, 83629 and 82262.
Allah knows best.
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