Gavin Howe
In Islam, there are several women who are forbidden from marriage due to kinship. This includes mothers, daughters, sisters, paternal and maternal aunts, brother's daughters, and sister's daughters. While the Quran does not specifically mention mothers-in-law, Islamic scholars have interpreted the text to include them as well. According to Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, a man is not permitted to marry his mother-in-law, regardless of whether he has engaged in sexual intercourse with her daughter or not. This ruling is supported by other Islamic sources, which state that a mother-in-law becomes a mahram, or an unmarriageable kin, as soon as a marriage contract is concluded with her daughter. However, there is a difference of opinion when it comes to marrying the mother-in-law of one's son, with some scholars permitting it if she is widowed or divorced.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Marrying a mother-in-law | Permanently prohibited for a man if he has entered into a marriage contract with her daughter, regardless of whether the marriage was consummated or not |
| Marrying a daughter-in-law | Permissible for a father-in-law if the wife is divorced or widowed |
| Kinship | Mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, and mothers-in-law are all forbidden in marriage due to kinship |
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What You'll Learn
- Marrying your mother-in-law is forbidden in Islam
- This is true even if the marriage to your wife was not consummated
- However, a man can marry his mother-in-law's daughter if the marriage was not consummated
- A husband's father can marry his son's mother-in-law if she is widowed or divorced
- A wife is Mahram for her father-in-law, but not for his sons
Marrying your mother-in-law is forbidden in Islam
Marrying one's mother-in-law is forbidden in Islam. This is a well-known and established ruling in Islam, as stated by Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi. According to Islamic teachings, a man is not permitted to marry his mother-in-law, regardless of whether he has engaged in sexual intercourse with her daughter or not. This ruling holds even if the wife has passed away before consummation.
The Quranic verse, An-Nisaa’: 23, supports this prohibition: "Forbidden unto you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your father’s sisters, and your mother’s sisters, and your brother’s daughters and your sister’s daughters, and your foster mothers, and your foster sisters, and your mothers-in-law, and your stepdaughters who are under your protection (born) of your women unto whom ye have gone in but if ye have not gone in unto them, then it is no sin for you (to marry their daughters) and the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins. And (it is forbidden unto you) that ye should have two sisters together, except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past. Lo! Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful."
The phrase "and your mothers-in-law" is general and includes both divorced and widowed women. The moment a marriage contract is concluded with a woman, her mother becomes permanently forbidden to her husband, even if the marriage was never consummated. This ruling is collectively agreed upon by all Muslim jurists.
However, it is important to note that there is a slight difference in opinion when it comes to the relationship between a man and his son's mother-in-law. In this case, it is permissible for the father to marry his son's mother-in-law if she is widowed or divorced, as the rule of being Mahram does not include the parents of the husband and wife.
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This is true even if the marriage to your wife was not consummated
In Islam, marrying one's mother-in-law is forbidden, even if the marriage to one's wife was not consummated. This ruling is agreed upon by all Muslim jurists and is derived from the following verse in the Quran:
> “Forbidden unto you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your father’s sisters, and your mother’s sisters, and your brother’s daughters and your sister’s daughters, and your foster mothers, and your foster sisters, and your mothers-in-law, and your stepdaughters who are under your protection (born) of your women unto whom ye have gone in but if ye have not gone in unto them, then it is no sin for you (to marry their daughters) and the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins. And (it is forbidden unto you) that ye should have two sisters together, except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past. Lo! Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (An-Nisaa’: 23)
The phrase "and your mothers-in-law" is interpreted to include the divorced woman, whether before or after consummation. The moment a marriage contract is concluded with a certain woman, her mother becomes permanently forbidden to her daughter's husband.
It is worth noting that there is a difference in opinion in the case of a man entering into a marriage contract with a mother (a woman with a grown-up daughter) without consummation. If the woman dies or is divorced before consummation, the man can marry her daughter. This is because, in this case, the man has not "gone in unto" the mother, and therefore it is not a sin for him to marry her daughter, as stated in the verse:
> “and your stepdaughters who are under your protection (born) of your women unto whom ye have gone in but if ye have not gone in unto them, then it is no sin for you (to marry their daughters)”
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However, a man can marry his mother-in-law's daughter if the marriage was not consummated
Marrying one's mother-in-law is prohibited in Islam. This ruling stands regardless of whether the man has engaged in sexual intercourse with his wife (the mother-in-law's daughter) or not.
However, there is an exception to this rule. If a man enters into a marriage contract with a woman who has a grown-up daughter but the marriage is not consummated, and the woman then dies or is divorced, the man can marry her daughter. This exception is supported by a verse from the Quran, in which Allah says:
> “and your stepdaughters who are under your protection (born) of your women unto whom ye have gone in but if ye have not gone in unto them, then it is no sin for you (to marry their daughters)”
This ruling is collectively agreed upon by all Muslim jurists.
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A husband's father can marry his son's mother-in-law if she is widowed or divorced
In Islam, a husband's father can marry his son's mother-in-law if she is widowed or divorced. This is because the wife is Mahram for her father-in-law, but not for his sons. Similarly, the husband is Mahram for his mother-in-law, but not for her other daughters. This rule of Mahram does not include the parents of the husband and wife. However, the mother-in-law must observe Hijab from her son-in-law's father, but not from her daughter's husband.
According to Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, it is not permissible for a man to marry his mother-in-law, irrespective of whether he has engaged in sexual intercourse with her daughter or not. This ruling stands even if her daughter is divorced before consummation. The moment a marriage contract is concluded with a certain woman, her mother becomes permanently forbidden to him.
This ruling is also supported by a verse in the Quran, in which Allah Almighty says:
> “Forbidden unto you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your father’s sisters, and your mother’s sisters, and your brother’s daughters and your sister’s daughters, and your foster mothers, and your foster sisters, and your mothers-in-law, and your stepdaughters who are under your protection (born) of your women unto whom ye have gone in but if ye have not gone in unto them, then it is no sin for you (to marry their daughters) and the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins. And (it is forbidden unto you) that ye should have two sisters together, except what hath already happened (of that nature) in the past. Lo! Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.” (An-Nisaa’: 23)
The phrase "and your mothers-in-law" is general and includes divorced women, whether before or after consummation. However, it is important to note that this ruling does not apply to the husband's father, as he is not considered Mahram to his son's wife.
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A wife is Mahram for her father-in-law, but not for his sons
In Islam, the concept of "Mahram" refers to individuals with whom marriage is not permissible. This includes immediate blood relatives, such as parents, children, and siblings. The term also extends to certain relationships formed through marriage, which can have implications for social interactions and legal permissions.
When a man enters into a marriage contract with a woman, his father becomes a Mahram for her, and her mother becomes a Mahram for him. This is based on the interpretation of the verse in which Allah mentions, "the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins" [An-Nisa’ 4:23]. Therefore, a wife is considered a Mahram for her father-in-law, and this relationship allows for certain social interactions, such as shaking hands.
However, the wife is not considered a Mahram for her husband's brothers or sons. This distinction is important because it determines the level of social interaction and privacy that is deemed acceptable within the religious guidelines. The wife's relationship with her husband's brothers or sons does not carry the same level of closeness as with her father-in-law.
It is worth noting that the concept of Mahram is not solely about marriage restrictions. It also encompasses a wider set of guidelines for social interactions and relationships. For example, a wife's step-uncle (her father's step-brother) is not considered a Mahram, but his closeness in age to the wife may cause discomfort for the husband, as indicated in one source. This highlights the complexity of family relationships and the need for guidance in navigating these dynamics within the Islamic faith.
In summary, while a wife is considered a Mahram for her father-in-law, allowing for certain social interactions, she is not a Mahram for her husband's brothers or sons. This distinction is an important aspect of understanding the Islamic guidelines for social conduct and privacy within extended family relationships.
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Frequently asked questions
No, a man cannot marry his mother-in-law, even if his wife passes away. This is a well-known ruling in Islam.
No, a man cannot marry his mother-in-law, even if he divorces his wife. This is a permanent ruling in Islam.
Yes, a man can marry his ex-mother-in-law if she is divorced or widowed. However, this ruling may vary depending on the school of thought within Islam.
