Source: Fatāwā Amunpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amunpūrī
What is the Islamic ruling on marrying a woman who was previously married to one’s father but is now divorced?
❖ It is absolutely impermissible.
Such a woman is counted among the permanently prohibited (maḥramāt abadīyah) for a man.
﴿وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُم مِّنَ النِّسَاءِ﴾
“…And do not marry those women whom your fathers had married…”
(Sūrah al-Nisāʾ, 4:22)
This verse clearly and explicitly forbids marrying any woman who had been previously married to one’s father, regardless of whether the marriage was consummated or not, or whether she is now divorced or widowed.
◈ A woman who had ever been married to one’s biological father becomes eternally unlawful (ḥarām) for the son.
◈ This prohibition remains even after divorce or death of the father.
◈ The ruling is clear and unanimously accepted among the scholars.
هَذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best.
❖ Question:
What is the Islamic ruling on marrying a woman who was previously married to one’s father but is now divorced?
❖ Answer:
❖ It is absolutely impermissible.
Such a woman is counted among the permanently prohibited (maḥramāt abadīyah) for a man.
❖ Evidence from the Qur’an:
﴿وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُم مِّنَ النِّسَاءِ﴾
“…And do not marry those women whom your fathers had married…”
(Sūrah al-Nisāʾ, 4:22)
This verse clearly and explicitly forbids marrying any woman who had been previously married to one’s father, regardless of whether the marriage was consummated or not, or whether she is now divorced or widowed.
Summary:
◈ A woman who had ever been married to one’s biological father becomes eternally unlawful (ḥarām) for the son.
◈ This prohibition remains even after divorce or death of the father.
◈ The ruling is clear and unanimously accepted among the scholars.
هَذَا مَا عِندِي، وَاللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I hold to be correct, and Allah knows best.
