Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Two girls were born as conjoined twins with their bodies physically joined. When one goes to relieve herself, the other must accompany her. They have now reached puberty and desire to get married. What is the Islamic ruling on their marriage?
If both girls possess distinct physical identities, then they may be separated via surgical operation, and each one may marry a different man individually.
However, if separation is not possible, or if they do not have distinct and independent bodily structures, then they cannot be married, because:
➤ If both are married to the same man, it results in combining two sisters in one marriage, which is prohibited in Islam.
وَأَنْ تَجْمَعُوا بَيْنَ الْأُخْتَيْنِ
[Sūrah al-Nisāʾ: 23]
Translation:
“…And [you are forbidden] to combine two sisters [in marriage to one man]…”
If the girls do not have separate physical identities, or even if they do but cannot be separated surgically, then such a scenario has no precedent from the time of Ādam عليه السلام until today.
Therefore, this case is hypothetical in nature and remains without applicable legal precedent.
➤ If both conjoined sisters have separate bodily identity and can be surgically separated, then they may marry different men.
➤ If separation is not medically possible, and they remain physically unified, then they cannot be married, as it would lead to violating the prohibition of marrying two sisters simultaneously.
➤ Such a case is exceptionally rare and unprecedented in Islamic legal history.
❖ Question:
Two girls were born as conjoined twins with their bodies physically joined. When one goes to relieve herself, the other must accompany her. They have now reached puberty and desire to get married. What is the Islamic ruling on their marriage?
✿ Answer:
If both girls possess distinct physical identities, then they may be separated via surgical operation, and each one may marry a different man individually.
However, if separation is not possible, or if they do not have distinct and independent bodily structures, then they cannot be married, because:
➤ If both are married to the same man, it results in combining two sisters in one marriage, which is prohibited in Islam.
✦ Qur’anic Evidence:
وَأَنْ تَجْمَعُوا بَيْنَ الْأُخْتَيْنِ
[Sūrah al-Nisāʾ: 23]Translation:
“…And [you are forbidden] to combine two sisters [in marriage to one man]…”
If the girls do not have separate physical identities, or even if they do but cannot be separated surgically, then such a scenario has no precedent from the time of Ādam عليه السلام until today.
Therefore, this case is hypothetical in nature and remains without applicable legal precedent.
Summary:
➤ If both conjoined sisters have separate bodily identity and can be surgically separated, then they may marry different men.
➤ If separation is not medically possible, and they remain physically unified, then they cannot be married, as it would lead to violating the prohibition of marrying two sisters simultaneously.
➤ Such a case is exceptionally rare and unprecedented in Islamic legal history.
