# As a convert, should I try to convert my spouse or family?

*A convert need not try to convert her spouse: Imam Malik's view*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/c8fjy8mcezm/s/8/
- Date: 2019-05-10 · Kind: lesson · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Can a Nikah with a Non-Muslim be valid? - Mufti Abu Layth Al-Maliki (36:59–40:48)
- Status: general teaching
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8fjy8MceZM&t=2219s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/c8fjy8mcezm/

**Topics:** Converts and newcomers; Dawah and debate culture

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** No need: Imam Malik said Islam should not be pressed on a convert's husband, since he knows what Islam is. Speaking about Islam is fine, but obsessing over converting people is not.

**Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth says there is no harm in speaking about Islam but no need for an obsession with trying to convert people.

**Evidence, his words at 39:31:** “there's no need for this obsession to try to convert people” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8fjy8MceZM&t=2371s)

## Longer summary

Summing up that a woman who embraces Islam may stay with her non-Muslim husband if she wishes, Mufti Abu Layth adds that she does not have to try to convert him. He says clips were made of him calling him an agent for having told converts not to try to convert their families, and cites al-Mudawwana, transmitted by Ibn al-Qasim, where Imam Malik is asked whether Islam should be presented to the husband of a woman who became Muslim and says it should not, since he knows what Islam is. He says Islam is not cheap and need not throw itself around: there is no harm in speaking about Islam, but no need for an obsession with converting people, and asks whether his critics would call Imam Malik a sellout.

## Sources and names cited

- Imam Malik
- al-Mudawwana [?]
- Ibn al-Qasim [?]

## Transcript (machine tier, 36:59–40:48)

[36:20] they do believe in Jesus to be God yet the nikah is perfectly valid right and relationships with worsening at idol worshipers are going to taru sand was permitted and with the Rast Rian's are going to her they fertility man or the alone on and Amrit Manthan are and according to orthogonal Yoruba and so all of these so this was the kind of summary to show that it wasn't actually as straightforward this issue that if a woman embraced Islam and the husband was a non-muslim if they emerge hacia brings nine different opinions right

[36:59] representing what to do in that or what the scholars have said in that scenario so to sum it up people once again that in that situation a woman can't stay fit to Islam her husband and she can stay with in that relationship with her non-muslim husband if she wants to and what's interesting here site nor does she have to convert him or try to convert him and you know in a previous show some people I mentioned as some people were kind of they're making these clips about me from a prior Q&A where I was asked that you know what's the best thing for converts to do and I said

[37:39] don't try to convert your family and people are saying oh my god agent agent of the agent right I wanna quote to you this is model wanna of imam malik transmitted by student even if awesome right now he says now check this out this is imam malik people imam malik culto our ETA in islamic tell Maura without you her kaffir he says worried what do you say about this if a woman

[38:18] became muslim and a husband is a kaffir he says a year ago a la Sol gel Islam if holy moly Kamla is should Islam like should they present Islam offer Islam to her husband should it be offered like through her should she offer it or maybe people ranch should they present it to him oh la la are other allele Islam fira

[38:52] la you are an ally in Islam he said Lara do you do not offer or present Islam to him that was Imam Malik right why because his point is what for that's not how it works you know he he wouldn't know what Islam is because she's embraced Islam you think he doesn't know what Islam is if he accepts he accepts it if he doesn't he doesn't you don't need to be presenting these kind of things to Islam doesn't need to throw itself around it's

[39:31] not that cheap you know you don't need to feel that all everybody needs everybody needs to embrace Islam Islam has a value to it if people want it they can come and have it if they don't want it that's fine there's no harm in speaking about Islam that's all good but my point was that there's no need for this obsession to try to convert people there's no need for that and that was Imam Malik you know people say agent hmm sellout hmm would they say that about my Malik

[40:09] the legend of Medina the dawn of Medina that was from him I was simply representing people the school of Medina that was Imam Alex teachings so my point coming back to the topic is that look a woman can choose to stay in that relationship if she wants to right that's all I'm so that's the fatwa a summary of all of of what's being expressed the argument is that Nika was not a kind of relationship Nakara means a relationship a kind of

[40:47] ceremonious relationship which carries different meanings in different cultures for us and Islam that there's right in most relationships there's some kind of rights for and and towards one another okay now and some kind of exclusivity now Anika was not something Islam introduced but Islam recognized as a important different studies point to Nika of any culture and community and any faith and no faith is equally recognized by Islam so if those if that couple embraced Islam or that family

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment c8fjy8MceZM/s/8. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/c8fjy8mcezm/s/8/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.