Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling on marrying the divorced or widowed wife of a foster grandfather (raḍāʿī grandfather)?
Just as it is impermissible to marry the divorced or widowed wife of one’s biological grandfather or maternal grandfather, it is likewise impermissible to marry the divorced or widowed wife of one’s foster (raḍāʿī) grandfather.
This is because the same relationships that are prohibited by blood ties (nasab) are also prohibited by fosterage (raḍāʿah).
﴿وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ﴾
“And do not marry those women whom your fathers had married.”
Surah al-Nisā’ (4): 22
The term “ābā’ukum” (your fathers) includes not only one's immediate father, but also one's paternal and maternal grandfathers.
Thus, it is ḥarām (forbidden) to marry the former wife of one’s biological or foster grandfather or maternal grandfather—whether she is divorced or widowed.
① Fosterage (raḍāʿah) carries the same legal prohibitions as blood relationships (nasab).
② Marrying the former wife (divorced or widowed) of a foster grandfather is just as impermissible as with a biological grandfather.
③ This ruling is based on clear Qur’anic guidance and scholarly consensus.
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on marrying the divorced or widowed wife of a foster grandfather (raḍāʿī grandfather)?
✿ Answer:
Just as it is impermissible to marry the divorced or widowed wife of one’s biological grandfather or maternal grandfather, it is likewise impermissible to marry the divorced or widowed wife of one’s foster (raḍāʿī) grandfather.
This is because the same relationships that are prohibited by blood ties (nasab) are also prohibited by fosterage (raḍāʿah).
❀ Allah ﷻ says:
﴿وَلَا تَنْكِحُوا مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ﴾
“And do not marry those women whom your fathers had married.”
Surah al-Nisā’ (4): 22The term “ābā’ukum” (your fathers) includes not only one's immediate father, but also one's paternal and maternal grandfathers.
Thus, it is ḥarām (forbidden) to marry the former wife of one’s biological or foster grandfather or maternal grandfather—whether she is divorced or widowed.
Conclusion:
① Fosterage (raḍāʿah) carries the same legal prohibitions as blood relationships (nasab).
② Marrying the former wife (divorced or widowed) of a foster grandfather is just as impermissible as with a biological grandfather.
③ This ruling is based on clear Qur’anic guidance and scholarly consensus.
