Q. Is it true that a Muslim man should only contemplate marrying a person of the Book if there are no Muslim women in the area where he is staying? Do the Christian\Jewish have to declare the belief in One God before a Muslim man can marry?
A. It is permissible (mubah/halal) for a Muslim man to marry a Kitabi woman (see Surah al-Ma'idah 5:5), but it is certainly better for a Muslim to marry a Muslim woman. According to some jurists, the permission to marry a Kitabi woman is only for those people who are living in a Muslim State (Darul Islam). Those who are living non-Muslim societies, it is better for them to have Muslim wives. In this way it will be easy for them to keep their home fully Islamic and it will be easier for them to raise their children in an Islamic manner.
Christians and Jews both claim that they believe in one God. Jews in their prayers declare "Shema'" which means, "Hear O Israel, the Lord your God is one God." Similarly Christian also say in their creed, "We believe in One Godc" but then they confuse their belief in the unity of God with the Trinity. Islam emphasized pure Tawhid and took away all the confusions that were created in the concept of monotheism by many Jews and Christians. It is good that a Muslim to remind both Jews and Christians to believe and affirm their faith in One God, especially if one is marrying a person and they both want to be life partners for each others.
Answer by Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi. Reprinted with permission of Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi.