My paternal aunt married a Hindu man and she became like them in customs and traditions. Their daughters are also like them. They worship idols. Since they are non-Muslims now, is it permissible for me to marry one of my cousins? What is the Sharee‘ah ruling on this?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.

A Muslim is not permitted to marry a polytheist. Allaah The Almighty Says (what mean): {And do not marry polytheistic women until they believe.} [Quran 2: 221]

Scholars made the free and chaste Jewish and Christian women the only exception. Allaah The Almighty Says (what mean): {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]

There is no doubt that the Hindus are polytheists and therefore it is prohibited to marry Hindu women. They are neither Jewish nor Christian.

Consequently, it is impermissible for you to marry one of your cousins as long as they adopt this belief. We seek refuge in Allaah from this.

Allaah Knows best.