Source: Fatāwā Amunpuri by Shaykh Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amunpuri
What is the ruling on marrying the widow of one’s brother, who is also the sister of one's wife?
It is not permissible to marry one's wife’s sister, even if she is a widow, while the wife is still 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’ (4): 23
“And (also forbidden is) that you combine two sisters (in marriage at the same time).”
This ruling applies regardless of the marital status (married, divorced, or widowed) of the sister.
As long as one sister remains in marriage, the other cannot be taken as a second wife.
① It is haram to marry a woman and her sister simultaneously, regardless of whether the sister is married, divorced, or widowed.
② Therefore, marrying the wife’s sister, even if she is the widow of one’s brother, is not permissible while the wife is still in the marriage.
③ Such a marriage is invalid and prohibited in Islamic law.
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on marrying the widow of one’s brother, who is also the sister of one's wife?
✿ Answer:
It is not permissible to marry one's wife’s sister, even if she is a widow, while the wife is still 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’ (4): 23“And (also forbidden is) that you combine two sisters (in marriage at the same time).”
This ruling applies regardless of the marital status (married, divorced, or widowed) of the sister.
As long as one sister remains in marriage, the other cannot be taken as a second wife.
✔ Summary:
① It is haram to marry a woman and her sister simultaneously, regardless of whether the sister is married, divorced, or widowed.
② Therefore, marrying the wife’s sister, even if she is the widow of one’s brother, is not permissible while the wife is still in the marriage.
③ Such a marriage is invalid and prohibited in Islamic law.
