A young American man wants to marry me. First, he told me that if he is convinced by Islam, he will embrace it, and if not he will remain on his religion. Now, he is convinced, but I want to know, is it permissible for a Muslim woman to marry a man who was a Christian and then embraced Islam? What is the religious ruling on such a marriage?

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 is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

Being convinced by the religion of Islam is not sufficient to become a Muslim, and such a person cannot be called a Muslim. The uncle of the Prophet Abu Taalib was convinced with the message of the Prophet and acknowledged that it was true, and acknowledged that he was trustworthy, but since he did not acknowledge that by confessing it with his tongue and did not act according to Islamic principles, he remained a non-Muslim.

To conclude, if this person embraces Islam, then the rulings of a Muslim apply to him, and he is one of the Muslims, he has the same rights and obligations like them, so he may marry a Muslim woman without a problem. However, if he remains as a Christian while saying that he is convinced with Islam, then he is still a non-Muslim and it is not permissible for him to marry a Muslim woman at all. Allaah Says (what means): {And do not marry polytheistic men [to your women] until they believe.}[Quran 2:221].

Allaah Knows best.