Allah has permitted Muslim men to marry Jewish or Christian women. He said, what translated means: "Made lawful for you this day are good (food that is permissible). The food (slaughtered 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 dowry, desiring chastity, not committing adultery, nor making them as girl-friends. And whosoever disbelieves in the Oneness of Allah (and in all other articles of faith), then fruitless in his work!" [5:5]
This Ayah excludes Jewish and Christian women from the other Ayah, which states: "And do not marry the Mushrik (polytheist women) till they believe." [2:221]
Women from the People of the Scripture are Mushrikeen and the Muslim nation is unanimous on this rule. To marry one of these women must be for the purpose of protecting one's self from adultery. Jewish or Christian women, who date, dance with men or commit adultery is neither clean nor honorable, and Muslim men must not marry them.
Also, when a Muslim man marries a Jewish or a Christian woman, he must weigh his action because sometimes what is permissible could lead to evil. Omar ibn Al-Khattab prohibited Muslim men from marrying Jewish women so that Muslim women were not left unmarried. Also, Omar thought that his action would protect Muslim men from Jewish prostitutes. This happened when Muslims were victorious and when Jews and Christians respected honor. Nowadays, Jews and Christians are victorious, while Muslims are defeated, and the Jews and Christians, do not care for honor. Many of them do not believe in the Torah or the Gospel, and Muslims cannot marry such women.
For the above reasons we advise all Muslim men of the West not to marry a Jew or a Christian woman unless Islamic Laws are observed, and they are:
1. That this woman believes in her religion and the Torah or the Gospel and is a follower of the Scriptures.
2. That this woman does not believe in or practice adultery. Adultery is prohibited in all the Scriptures. If she accepts adultery, even if she believed in the Scriptures or even if she was a Muslim, then she is not clean or honorable. Muslims are not permitted to marry such women. Allah said, what translated means: "The adulterer marries but an adulteress or a Mushrik. And the adulteress is not asked for marriage but by an adulterer or a Mushrik." [24:3]
3. That she seeks marriage to escape from adultery, and for the lawfulness of marriage. If she wants marriage to be a means of befriending men only and not marriage that is honorable, and then it is impermissible. Allah said, what translated means: "Desiring chastity and not illegal sexual intercourse." [24:3]
It is not permitted to marry women of the Scripture, but for the sake of honorable marriage. Girlfriends are prohibited to Muslim men.
[From: Priorities of Islamic work in the West - By: Sheikh Abdurrahman Abdul Khaaliq]