(Taken from: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1)
✿ Definition of Ḥalālah
Ḥalālah is an unlawful practice in which a woman is married to a second man solely for the purpose of making her lawful again for her first husband. This marriage is usually for a short duration, after which the second husband divorces her so the first husband can remarry her. This practice is contrary to Sharīʿah and the Prophet ﷺ cursed those who engage in it.
✔ Linguistic and Sharʿī Definition
Linguistic Definition:
The well-known lexicon al-Nihāyah fī Gharīb al-Ḥadīth wa al-Athar defines ḥalālah as:
“It is the act in which a man marries a woman divorced three times by her first husband with the condition that he will divorce her after intercourse, so she becomes lawful for her first husband.”
(al-Nihāyah fī Gharīb al-Ḥadīth wa al-Athar, 1/431)
Juristic Definition:
In al-Qāmūs al-Fiqhī, the muḥallil is described as:
“The muḥallil is the one who marries a woman divorced three times solely to make her lawful for her first husband. In the ḥadīth, Allah curses both the muḥallil and the one for whom it is done (muḥallal lahu).”
✿ Ruling on Ḥalālah
✔ Sharʿī Position:
The customary practice of ḥalālah is unequivocally ḥarām (forbidden). The Prophet ﷺ strictly forbade this practice.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ’s Severe Warning:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Allah curses the muḥallil (the man who performs ḥalālah) and the muḥallal lahu (the one for whom ḥalālah is performed).”
(Sunan Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Nikāḥ, Ḥadīth: 2076; Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Abwāb al-Nikāḥ, Ḥadīth: 1119)
✿ The Stance of Islamic Jurisprudence:
✔ A marriage done for the sake of ḥalālah is invalid and ḥarām.
✔ The intention and condition in such a marriage are both unlawful according to Sharīʿah.
✿ Summary:
The customary practice of ḥalālah—involving a second man marrying a woman solely to make her lawful for her first husband—is forbidden and impermissible in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ cursed both the one who does it and the one for whom it is done. Therefore, Muslims must completely abstain from this practice and adhere to Islamic teachings.
✿ Definition of Ḥalālah
Ḥalālah is an unlawful practice in which a woman is married to a second man solely for the purpose of making her lawful again for her first husband. This marriage is usually for a short duration, after which the second husband divorces her so the first husband can remarry her. This practice is contrary to Sharīʿah and the Prophet ﷺ cursed those who engage in it.
✔ Linguistic and Sharʿī Definition
Linguistic Definition:
The well-known lexicon al-Nihāyah fī Gharīb al-Ḥadīth wa al-Athar defines ḥalālah as:
“It is the act in which a man marries a woman divorced three times by her first husband with the condition that he will divorce her after intercourse, so she becomes lawful for her first husband.”
(al-Nihāyah fī Gharīb al-Ḥadīth wa al-Athar, 1/431)
Juristic Definition:
In al-Qāmūs al-Fiqhī, the muḥallil is described as:
“The muḥallil is the one who marries a woman divorced three times solely to make her lawful for her first husband. In the ḥadīth, Allah curses both the muḥallil and the one for whom it is done (muḥallal lahu).”
✿ Ruling on Ḥalālah
✔ Sharʿī Position:
The customary practice of ḥalālah is unequivocally ḥarām (forbidden). The Prophet ﷺ strictly forbade this practice.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ’s Severe Warning:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Allah curses the muḥallil (the man who performs ḥalālah) and the muḥallal lahu (the one for whom ḥalālah is performed).”
(Sunan Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Nikāḥ, Ḥadīth: 2076; Sunan al-Tirmidhī, Abwāb al-Nikāḥ, Ḥadīth: 1119)
✿ The Stance of Islamic Jurisprudence:
✔ A marriage done for the sake of ḥalālah is invalid and ḥarām.
✔ The intention and condition in such a marriage are both unlawful according to Sharīʿah.
✿ Summary:
The customary practice of ḥalālah—involving a second man marrying a woman solely to make her lawful for her first husband—is forbidden and impermissible in Islam. The Prophet ﷺ cursed both the one who does it and the one for whom it is done. Therefore, Muslims must completely abstain from this practice and adhere to Islamic teachings.
