Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Is it permissible to marry a wife's maternal half-sister (same mother, different fathers) while the wife is still in the marriage?
It is forbidden (ḥarām) to marry a wife's maternal half-sister while the wife is still present in the marriage.
This falls under the general prohibition of combining two sisters in one marriage.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿ وَأَنْ تَجْمَعُوا بَيْنَ الْأُخْتَيْنِ ﴾
[Sūrat al-Nisā’: 23]
“And (also forbidden is) that you combine two sisters (in marriage at the same time).”
The word "sisters" here includes all types of sisters —
✔ Full sisters (same mother and father)
✔ Paternal half-sisters (same father)
✔ Maternal half-sisters (same mother)
All are included in the ruling.
① Marrying one’s wife and her maternal half-sister simultaneously is not permissible.
② The prohibition applies to all types of sisters, regardless of whether they share mother or father.
③ Such a marriage is invalid and impermissible in Islamic law.
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to marry a wife's maternal half-sister (same mother, different fathers) while the wife is still in the marriage?
✿ Answer:
It is forbidden (ḥarām) to marry a wife's maternal half-sister while the wife is still present in the marriage.
This falls under the general prohibition of combining two sisters in one marriage.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿ وَأَنْ تَجْمَعُوا بَيْنَ الْأُخْتَيْنِ ﴾
[Sūrat al-Nisā’: 23]“And (also forbidden is) that you combine two sisters (in marriage at the same time).”
The word "sisters" here includes all types of sisters —
✔ Full sisters (same mother and father)
✔ Paternal half-sisters (same father)
✔ Maternal half-sisters (same mother)
All are included in the ruling.
✔ Summary:
① Marrying one’s wife and her maternal half-sister simultaneously is not permissible.
② The prohibition applies to all types of sisters, regardless of whether they share mother or father.
③ Such a marriage is invalid and impermissible in Islamic law.
