Whom is it forbidden to marry?
The question as asked, details removedWhich relatives can a man never marry, and can cousins marry each other?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
A man can never marry his mother, daughter, sister, aunts, nieces, foster relatives of the same kind, his wife's mother, his father's wife or his son's wife. He may not be married to two sisters, or to a woman and her aunt, at the same time. Cousins are not mahram and may marry.
2Detailed answer
Permanently forbidden (mahram) for a man:
- By blood: mother and grandmothers, daughters and granddaughters, sisters, paternal and maternal aunts, and the daughters of his brothers and sisters.
- By fosterage (breastfeeding in infancy): the same relations through the woman who nursed him, such as his foster mother and foster sister.
- By marriage: his wife's mother, his wife's daughter once the marriage was consummated, his father's wife and his son's wife.
Forbidden together, but not permanently:
- Two sisters at the same time.
- A woman together with her paternal or maternal aunt.
Cousins (children of uncles and aunts) are not mahram. Marrying them is allowed, and for the same reason purdah applies between them.
3Evidence and sources
- Qur'an, An-Nisa 4:22-23
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of Nikah
- Sahih Muslim, Book of Fosterage
- Bahar-e-Shariat, chapter on mahrams
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
حرمت عليكم أمهاتكم وبناتكم وأخواتكم وعماتكم وخالاتكم وبنات الأخ وبنات الأخت
Meaning: Forbidden to you are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal aunts, the daughters of your brother and the daughters of your sister.
يحرم من الرضاعة ما يحرم من النسب
Meaning: What is forbidden by blood is forbidden by fosterage.
The verse goes on to list foster relations, the wife's mother and the son's wife, and forbids two sisters together. The Prophet ﷺ added that a woman may not be married together with her paternal or maternal aunt.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ