Can a father marry his son’s mother-in-law?

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Nasihah (Advice): The bounty of Nikah

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah radiyallahu anhu reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “You will certainly meet Your Rabb on the Day of Qiyamah. (Among the things Allah will ask is), ‘Did I not get you married to such-and-such lady? Many proposed to her, but I prevented them and married you to her.’” [Sahih Ibn Hibban]

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Question and Answer:

In our family, a man is a widow. He has five sons and one daughter. The widowed man took his son to India for his son to marry a young girl. The widowed man’s son married the younger daughter of the house. At the same time, the widowed man liked the elder daughter of the house and he married her? Is this permissible in Islam?

(Question published as received)

In principle, it is prohibited for a father to marry his son’s wife. Allah Ta’ala mentions in the Quran, “Prohibited for you are…..the wives of your sons from your loins.” (Nisaa 4/23)

However, it is not prohibited for a father to marry his son’s mother-in-law or sister-in-law. Hence, it will be permissible for a father to marry his son’s sister-in-law i.e. his daughter-in-law’s sister. (Al-Jowharah 2/4)

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Mufti Ismaeel Bassa

Mufti Moosa Salie

(The answer hereby given is specifically based on the question asked and should be read together with the question asked. Islamic rulings on this Q&A newsletter are answered in accordance to the Hanafi Fiqh unless otherwise stated.)

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