Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
Is it permissible for a father to marry his son’s divorced or widowed wife (whether consummated or not), or for a son to marry his father’s divorced or widowed wife (whether consummated or not)?
It is not permissible for either the father or the son to marry the other's wife, whether or not the marriage was consummated.
A father-in-law and daughter-in-law can never be married to each other. This is among the eternally prohibited relationships (maḥarramāt abadiyyah).
① ﴿وَحَلَائِلُ أَبْنَائِكُمُ﴾
[Sūrah al-Nisā’, 4:23]
Translation:
“And (forbidden to you are) the wives of your sons.”
② ﴿وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ﴾
[Sūrah al-Nisā’, 4:22]
Translation:
“And do not marry those women whom your fathers have married.”
① A father can never marry his son’s wife, even if there was no consummation.
② A son can never marry his father’s wife, even if there was no consummation.
③ These prohibitions are absolute and permanent, based on clear Qur’anic injunctions without any condition of consummation.
❖ Question:
Is it permissible for a father to marry his son’s divorced or widowed wife (whether consummated or not), or for a son to marry his father’s divorced or widowed wife (whether consummated or not)?
✿ Answer:
It is not permissible for either the father or the son to marry the other's wife, whether or not the marriage was consummated.
A father-in-law and daughter-in-law can never be married to each other. This is among the eternally prohibited relationships (maḥarramāt abadiyyah).
❖ Qur’anic Evidences:
① ﴿وَحَلَائِلُ أَبْنَائِكُمُ﴾
[Sūrah al-Nisā’, 4:23]Translation:
“And (forbidden to you are) the wives of your sons.”
② ﴿وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ﴾
[Sūrah al-Nisā’, 4:22]Translation:
“And do not marry those women whom your fathers have married.”
Summary of the Ruling:
① A father can never marry his son’s wife, even if there was no consummation.
② A son can never marry his father’s wife, even if there was no consummation.
③ These prohibitions are absolute and permanent, based on clear Qur’anic injunctions without any condition of consummation.
