Source: Fatāwā Amunpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Muṣṭafā Ẓahīr Amunpūrī
If a man’s wife passes away, and she had a daughter from her previous marriage, can the man marry that daughter (his stepdaughter, or rabībah)?
If the man consummated the marriage (i.e., had sexual relations) with his deceased wife,
then it is strictly forbidden (ḥarām) for him to marry her daughter from a previous husband.
“And [forbidden to you are] your stepdaughters under your guardianship [born] of your wives unto whom you have gone in. But if you have not gone in unto them, there is no sin upon you [to marry them].”
— Sūrah al-Nisāʾ (4:23)
This verse clearly states that if a man has had intercourse with his wife, then her daughters from previous marriages become permanently prohibited for him — even after the wife’s death.
Marriage to a stepdaughter (rabībah) depends on whether intercourse occurred with her mother:
This is what I hold to be correct. Allah knows best.
❖ Question:
If a man’s wife passes away, and she had a daughter from her previous marriage, can the man marry that daughter (his stepdaughter, or rabībah)?
❖ Answer:
If the man consummated the marriage (i.e., had sexual relations) with his deceased wife,
then it is strictly forbidden (ḥarām) for him to marry her daughter from a previous husband.
❖ Qur'anic Evidence:
“And [forbidden to you are] your stepdaughters under your guardianship [born] of your wives unto whom you have gone in. But if you have not gone in unto them, there is no sin upon you [to marry them].”
— Sūrah al-Nisāʾ (4:23)
This verse clearly states that if a man has had intercourse with his wife, then her daughters from previous marriages become permanently prohibited for him — even after the wife’s death.
Summary:
- ✔ If the wife was consummated, her daughter (rabībah) becomes permanently forbidden to her husband — even if she dies.
- ✘ If the wife was not consummated, her daughter may be married.
❖ Conclusion:
Marriage to a stepdaughter (rabībah) depends on whether intercourse occurred with her mother:
- Yes, consummation happened → Stepdaughter is permanently forbidden.
- No consummation → Stepdaughter’s marriage is permissible.
This is what I hold to be correct. Allah knows best.
