
In Islam, it is forbidden for a man to marry his mother-in-law, and this ruling is collectively agreed upon by all Muslim jurists. This is derived from the verse in the Quran, An-Nisaa 4:23, which states that it is prohibited to marry close relatives, including mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, and mothers-in-law. The ruling applies regardless of whether the marriage with the wife was consummated or not, and even if the wife has passed away. The mother-in-law becomes an everlasting mahram to her son-in-law, and this relationship is considered permanent and sacred.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can you marry your mother-in-law in Islam? | No |
| Rationale | She is an everlasting mahram to you |
| Supporting Text from Quran | Almighty Allah says: "It is prohibited on you to marry your mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, mothers who nursed you, sisters in nursing and the mothers of your wives" (An-Nisaa 4:23) |
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What You'll Learn
- Marrying your mother-in-law is forbidden in Islam
- This ruling is agreed upon by all Muslim jurists
- The ruling applies irrespective of consummation of the marriage
- A man can marry his mother-in-law's daughter if the marriage wasn't consummated
- A man can care for his elderly mother-in-law after his wife's death

Marrying your mother-in-law is forbidden in Islam
Marrying one's mother-in-law is forbidden in Islam. This ruling is agreed upon by all Muslim jurists and is derived from the Quranic verse, An-Nisaa 4:23, in which Allah states:
> "It is prohibited on you to marry your mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, mothers who nursed you, sisters in nursing and the mothers of your wives."
The verse clearly includes mothers-in-law in the list of women that are prohibited for a man to marry due to relations established by blood, nursing, or marriage. The ruling is further supported by Sheikh Kifah Mustapha, the Imam and Director of The Prayer Center of Orland Park, who states that one cannot marry their mother-in-law at all, and she is an "everlasting mahram".
This ruling applies irrespective of whether the marriage with the wife was consummated or not. Even if the wife has passed away or the couple has divorced, the mother-in-law remains permanently forbidden for the man to marry. Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi emphasizes this point by stating that it is not permissible to marry one's mother-in-law, regardless of whether there was sexual intercourse with her daughter or not.
The ruling also considers the scenario where a man enters into a marriage contract with a mother (a woman with a grown-up daughter) without consummation. In this case, if the woman dies or the marriage is annulled before consummation, the man is permitted to marry the woman's daughter but not the mother. This exception further reinforces the prohibition on marrying one's mother-in-law, as the relationship established through the initial marriage contract still renders the mother-in-law as a forbidden spouse.
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This ruling is agreed upon by all Muslim jurists
Marrying one's mother-in-law is forbidden in Islam, and this ruling is agreed upon by all Muslim jurists. This is derived from the Quranic verse in Surah An-Nisaa, which states:
> "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." (An-Nisaa 4:23)
The verse clearly mentions "your mothers-in-law" as one of the categories of women that are prohibited for a man to marry. The ruling is not dependent on whether the marriage with the wife was consummated or not. Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi confirms this by stating:
> “It is not permissible to marry one’s mother-in-law irrespective of whether the man has engaged in sexual intercourse with her daughter or not, and whether her daughter is divorced before consummation or not. It also makes no difference whether the wife died before consummation or not.”
The ruling is further supported by the interpretation of Sheikh Kifah Mustapha, who states that even if one only concludes the marriage contract without actual consummation, the mother-in-law is still considered a mahram forever. The same ruling applies to the wife's grandmother, as she is also included in the category of "mothers-in-law."
This ruling is agreed upon by Muslim jurists from the four schools of jurisprudence, and it is based on the understanding that once a marriage contract is concluded with a woman, her mother becomes permanently forbidden to the husband. This is to maintain the sanctity of the family unit and to avoid any potential conflicts or ambiguities in relationships.
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The ruling applies irrespective of consummation of the marriage
In Islam, a man is forbidden from marrying his mother-in-law, and this ruling stands irrespective of whether the marriage to his wife—the mother-in-law's daughter—was consummated or not. This is a well-known and established ruling in Islam, agreed upon by all Muslim jurists.
Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi states:
> "It is not permissible to marry one's mother-in-law irrespective of whether the man has engaged in sexual intercourse with her daughter or not, and whether her daughter is divorced before consummation or not. It also makes no difference whether the wife died before consummation or not."
The ruling is referenced in the Quran, An-Nisaa 4:23:
> "It is prohibited on you to marry your mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, mothers who nursed you, sisters in nursing and the mothers of your wives."
The moment a marriage contract is concluded with a certain woman, her mother becomes permanently forbidden to the husband, regardless of sexual intercourse. This is further supported by another verse in the Quran, which states:
> "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."
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A man can marry his mother-in-law's daughter if the marriage wasn't consummated
In Islam, it is forbidden to marry one's mother-in-law, irrespective of whether the marriage with her daughter was consummated or not. This is supported by the following verse from the Quran:
> 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."
However, there is a difference of opinion on whether a man can marry his mother-in-law's daughter if the marriage with the mother was not consummated. Some sources interpret the above verse to mean that if a man enters into a marriage contract with a mother without consummating the marriage, and the woman dies or is divorced, then the man can marry her daughter.
On the other hand, some Islamic scholars, like Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, state that it is not permissible to marry one's mother-in-law, irrespective of whether the marriage was consummated or not.
It is important to note that Islamic rulings on marriage and other matters can be complex and may vary depending on the specific circumstances and the interpretation of the Quran and hadith. It is always best to consult a trusted Islamic scholar or counselor for personalized advice.
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A man can care for his elderly mother-in-law after his wife's death
In Islam, a man cannot marry his mother-in-law, irrespective of whether he has consummated his marriage with her daughter or not, and whether his wife is alive, divorced, or deceased. This ruling is agreed upon by all Muslim jurists, who state that the moment a marriage contract is concluded with a woman, her mother becomes permanently forbidden to him.
However, in the case where a man's wife passes away, Islamic teachings allow him to continue living with and caring for his elderly mother-in-law. According to Islamic sources, the mother-in-law in this scenario is considered a mahram, meaning the man can attend to her needs without any hijab requirements or restrictions on travel and interaction. This is supported by a response from Dar Al-Ifta Al-Misriyyah, which states that it is permissible for a man to live with and care for his elderly mother-in-law after his wife's death.
In the specific scenario described, the man's wife has passed away, and he has remarried. He and his new wife are staying with his mother-in-law to care for her, and he treats her as his own mother. This arrangement is permissible according to Islamic rulings, and the man is considered a mahram to his mother-in-law.
It is important to note that while a man is allowed to care for his mother-in-law, Islamic teachings also emphasize the importance of a wife's consent when it comes to living with in-laws. If a husband wishes for his wife to live with his relatives who are not Mahrams to her, he should provide separate and suitable accommodation for her if she refuses. This accommodation should be in line with his means and suitable according to local customs and the social level of the wife.
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Frequently asked questions
No, a man cannot marry his mother-in-law, even if he divorces his wife or his wife passes away.
According to the Quran, "It is prohibited on you to marry your mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, nieces, mothers who nursed you, sisters in nursing and the mothers of your wives" (An-Nisaa 4:23).
No, the moment a marriage contract is concluded with a woman, her mother becomes permanently forbidden to him, irrespective of whether the marriage was consummated or not.
No, even after his wife's death, a man is considered a mahram to his mother-in-law and cannot marry her.













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