A Muslim Man Marrying His Mother-In-Law: Allowed Or Not?

can a muslim man marry his mother in law

In Islam, a mahram is a family member with whom marriage would be considered permanently unlawful (haram). For a man, mahram women include his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, grandaunt, niece, grandniece, his father's wife, his wife's daughter (step-daughter), his daughter-in-law (if previously married to his biological son), his mother-in-law, his rada mother, and rada sister. In India, if a single father marries a single mother, their respective children from previous relationships would typically become step-siblings. Under Indian law, marriage between step-siblings is generally prohibited.

Characteristics Values
Can a Muslim man marry his mother-in-law? No, it is forbidden forever.
Relationship with mother-in-law She is considered his mahram, meaning it is unlawful (haram) to marry her.
What if the wife is divorced or deceased? It is still forbidden to marry the ex-mother-in-law or late wife's mother.

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Muslim law prohibits a man from marrying his mother-in-law, even after a divorce

The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939, outlines that certain relationships are prohibited under the law. This includes a man's mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, great-niece, aunts, and great-aunts. It also includes his wife's mother/grandmother, wife's daughter/granddaughter, and son's wife in the case of a second, third, or fourth marriage. All relations prohibited through blood relations and marriages also apply to foster relationships.

Under Indian law, marriage between step-siblings is generally prohibited. While Muslim law may not explicitly mention step-sibling marriages, such unions are typically discouraged due to social norms and the legal presumption that they belong to the same family unit.

In summary, Muslim law prohibits a man from marrying his mother-in-law, even after a divorce, as she is considered a mahram or a prohibited relation.

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A man also cannot marry his ex-wife's mother

In Islam, a mahram is a family member with whom marriage would be considered permanently unlawful (haram). For a man, mahram women include his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, grandaunt, niece, grandniece, his father's wife, his wife's daughter (step-daughter), his daughter-in-law (if previously married to his biological son), his mother-in-law, his rada mother, and rada sister.

A man cannot marry his mother-in-law, even if she is his ex-wife's mother. This is because she is still considered his mahram, and it is haram to marry one's mahram. This rule applies even if the man did not have intercourse with his former wife.

In addition to one's current mother-in-law, a man also cannot marry his wife's grandmother, wife's daughter/granddaughter, or son's wife in the case of a second, third, or fourth marriage. All relations prohibited through blood relations and marriages also apply to foster relationships. For example, a man cannot marry his foster mother's daughter.

While the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, and other personal laws like Muslim, Christian, and Parsi laws may not explicitly mention step-sibling marriages, such unions are typically discouraged due to social norms and the legal presumption that they belong to the same family unit. However, if step-siblings wished to marry, they could apply for special permission under the Special Marriage Act, which allows for certain exemptions from the prohibited degrees of relationship.

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In Islam, a mahram is a family member with whom marriage is unlawful

In Islam, a mahram is a family member with whom an individual is not permitted to marry due to close blood relations, breastfeeding, or marriage. For women, mahrams include the father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, grandson, great-grandson, paternal and maternal uncles, brother, brother's son, and sister's son. Women are also not permitted to marry the husband's father, grandfather, son, grandson, and other male descendants, as well as the husband's brother and the brother of the woman who breastfed her.

For men, mahram women include the mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, grandaunt, niece, grandniece, father's wife, and wife's daughter (step-daughter). A man's female cousins, uncle's wife, and sister-in-law are considered non-mahrams, and marriage is permissible under certain conditions.

In the case of divorce, the father-in-law and mother-in-law remain mahram. If an individual's parents divorce and remarry, their new spouses become mahram, and this relationship is maintained even if the parents' new marriages end in divorce. If the individual's parents have children from other marriages, these children become mahram as well, but male and female children are not mahram to each other.

The concept of mahram also extends to rada or "milk-suckling mahrams," where a woman who acts as a wet nurse to an infant that is not her own child becomes the child's rada mother. This creates reciprocal mahram relationships between the wet nurse and the child's family.

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Mothers, grandmothers, daughters, granddaughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, and great-nieces are considered mahram

In Islam, a mahram is a person who an individual is not allowed to marry due to close blood relations, breastfeeding, or marriage. Mothers, grandmothers, daughters, granddaughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, and great-nieces are considered mahram. This also applies to relatives related through such individuals. For example, a man cannot marry his great-granddaughter.

Mothers, grandmothers, and other female ancestors are mahram. This means that a man cannot marry his mother, grandmother, or any female ancestor. Similarly, daughters, granddaughters, and other female descendants are mahram, so a man cannot marry his daughter, granddaughter, or any other female descendant.

Sisters, aunts, nieces, and great-nieces are also mahram. This means that a man cannot marry his sister, aunt, niece, or great-niece. This also includes relatives related through these individuals, such as a man cannot marry his great granddaughter.

In addition to blood relations, individuals can also become mahram through marriage or breastfeeding. For example, a man's mother-in-law, father-in-law, and grandparents-in-law become mahram after he marries. If a man has children, his son's wife is also considered mahram.

It is important to note that the concept of mahram is not limited to Muslim laws, but also applies to other personal laws in India, such as Christian and Parsi laws, which discourage marriages between certain relatives.

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A man cannot marry his foster mother's daughter

Muslim men are prohibited from marrying certain relatives, including their mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, great-niece, aunts, or great-aunts. This also extends to the relatives of one's wife, such as her mother or grandmother, her daughter or granddaughter, and the wives of one's son or grandson.

Foster relationships are also included in these prohibited relations. For example, a man cannot marry his foster mother, and by extension, her mother or grandmother, and whosoever is higher in the line of descent. This prohibition also applies to the daughters of foster mothers, as they are considered sisters to the man and thus, fall under the category of prohibited relations.

The prohibiting factor in foster relationships is often considered to be milk, referring to the act of breastfeeding. If a woman has breastfed a child, she is considered his foster mother, and her daughters are considered his foster sisters. Therefore, a man cannot marry his foster mother's daughter, as she is his sister through suckling.

It is important to note that while these prohibitions are outlined in Islamic law, the specific laws of a country or region may also play a role in discouraging certain marriages, such as between step-siblings, even if they are not explicitly mentioned in religious texts.

Frequently asked questions

No, a Muslim man cannot marry his mother-in-law, even if he divorces her daughter. This is because the mother-in-law is considered a mahram, a family member with whom marriage is considered permanently unlawful.

A mahram is a family member with whom marriage would be considered unlawful. For a man, mahram women include his mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, grandaunt, niece, grandniece, his father's wife, his wife's daughter (step-daughter), his daughter-in-law (if previously married to his biological son), his mother-in-law, his rada mother, and rada sister.

A rada mother is a woman who acts as a wet nurse, i.e., she breastfeeds an infant that is not her own child for a certain amount of time under certain conditions.

A Muslim man can marry his stepdaughter if he has not consummated his marriage with her mother.

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