Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling on marrying a stepdaughter (rabībah), i.e., the daughter of one's wife from a previous husband?
If a man has not had privacy (khulwah) with his wife (i.e., consummation or seclusion has not occurred), and he divorces her or she passes away, then it is permissible for him to marry her daughter from a previous husband.
However, if he has had privacy (khulwah or intercourse) with the wife, then it becomes forever prohibited for him to marry her daughter — even if divorce or death occurs later. Such a girl is permanently unlawful (ḥarām) for him.
﴿وَرَبَائِبُكُمُ اللَّاتِي فِي حُجُورِكُمْ مِنْ نِسَائِكُمُ اللَّاتِي دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ﴾
[Sūrah al-Nisā’, 4:23]
Translation:
“Your stepdaughters under your care, who are born of your wives with whom you have consummated the marriage, are prohibited for you. But if you have not consummated the marriage with them, then there is no blame upon you (for marrying their daughters).”
① If a man has consummated his marriage with a woman, then her daughter (rabībah) becomes eternally unlawful (maḥram) for him.
② If he has not consummated the marriage with her and they separate (divorce or death), then it is permissible for him to marry her daughter.
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on marrying a stepdaughter (rabībah), i.e., the daughter of one's wife from a previous husband?
✿ Answer:
If a man has not had privacy (khulwah) with his wife (i.e., consummation or seclusion has not occurred), and he divorces her or she passes away, then it is permissible for him to marry her daughter from a previous husband.
However, if he has had privacy (khulwah or intercourse) with the wife, then it becomes forever prohibited for him to marry her daughter — even if divorce or death occurs later. Such a girl is permanently unlawful (ḥarām) for him.
❖ Qur’anic Evidence:
﴿وَرَبَائِبُكُمُ اللَّاتِي فِي حُجُورِكُمْ مِنْ نِسَائِكُمُ اللَّاتِي دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ﴾
[Sūrah al-Nisā’, 4:23]Translation:
“Your stepdaughters under your care, who are born of your wives with whom you have consummated the marriage, are prohibited for you. But if you have not consummated the marriage with them, then there is no blame upon you (for marrying their daughters).”
Summary of the Ruling:
① If a man has consummated his marriage with a woman, then her daughter (rabībah) becomes eternally unlawful (maḥram) for him.
② If he has not consummated the marriage with her and they separate (divorce or death), then it is permissible for him to marry her daughter.
