Why is it not permissible for a Muslim woman to marry a kaafir man

 

It is permissible for Muslim men to marry women who are not Muslim, so why are Muslim women not permitted to marry men who follow a religion other than Islam?

Praise
be to Allaah.

 

It is permissible for a Muslim man to marry a woman from
among the People of the Book, a Jewish or Christian woman, but not a
woman from any other kaafir religion, as Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning): 

“Made lawful to you this day are At-Tayyibaat
[all kinds of Halaal (lawful) foods, which Allaah has made lawful (meat
of slaughtered eatable animals, milk products, fats, vegetables and
fruits)]. The food (slaughtered cattle, eatable animals) of the people
of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) is lawful to you and yours is
lawful to them. (Lawful to you in marriage) are chaste women from the
believers and chaste women from those who were given the Scripture (Jews
and Christians) before your time when you have given their due Mahr
(bridal-money given by the husband to his wife at the time of marriage)…”

[al-Maa’idah 5:5] 

This refers to chaste women from among the People of
the Book, not immoral women. It is not permissible for a Muslim woman
to marry a mushrik who is not a Muslim, no matter what his religion
is. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And give not (your daughters) in marriage to Al-Mushrikoon till
they believe (in Allaah Alone) and verily, a believing slave is better
than a (free) Mushrik (idolater), even though he pleases you. Those
(Al-Mushrikoon) invite you to the Fire…”

[al-Baqarah 2:221] 

And because Islam should prevail and not be prevailed
over, as is stated in the religion of Islam. 

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Kareem al-Khudayr 

It is known that the man is the stronger party and the
one who dominates the lives of the family, his wife and children. So
it is not wise for a Muslim woman to marry a kaafir man who will dominate
her life and the life of her children, the consequences of which will
be very serious, as there is the possibility that he may divert her
from her religion and raise the children in his own religion. 

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid