Source: Fatāwā of the Scholars of Hadith, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1
Is it permissible in Islam to marry one's maternal uncle’s wife (māmānī) or paternal uncle’s wife (chachī)?
Yes, it is permissible to marry one’s māmānī or chachī, provided that there is no other Shar‘i reason which renders the marriage unlawful, such as a relationship through suckling (raḍāʿah) or any other form of prohibited kinship.
These two relations are not included among the permanently forbidden relationships (maḥarramāt abadiyyah) listed in the Qur’ān. Allah ﷻ has clearly outlined the permanently prohibited women for marriage in Sūrah al-Nisā’ (4:23):
“Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal aunts, your brothers’ daughters, and your sisters’ daughters…”
(Sūrah al-Nisā’: 23)
The relationship of māmānī (maternal uncle’s wife) and chachī (paternal uncle’s wife) is established through marriage, not through blood. Hence, they are not part of those women who are permanently forbidden for marriage, as mentioned in the Qur’ān.
If there exists no other Shar‘i barrier (such as a milk relationship or a bond that establishes prohibition), then marriage with them is permissible after the termination of their previous marriage (i.e., after divorce or death of the uncle and completion of ʿiddah).
According to Islamic law, it is permissible to marry one’s māmānī or chachī, because they are not among the women permanently prohibited for marriage. The permissibility is conditioned upon the absence of any other Shar‘i prohibition.
❀ Question
Is it permissible in Islam to marry one's maternal uncle’s wife (māmānī) or paternal uncle’s wife (chachī)?
❀ Answer
Yes, it is permissible to marry one’s māmānī or chachī, provided that there is no other Shar‘i reason which renders the marriage unlawful, such as a relationship through suckling (raḍāʿah) or any other form of prohibited kinship.
❀ In Light of the Noble Qur’ān
These two relations are not included among the permanently forbidden relationships (maḥarramāt abadiyyah) listed in the Qur’ān. Allah ﷻ has clearly outlined the permanently prohibited women for marriage in Sūrah al-Nisā’ (4:23):
“Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal aunts, your brothers’ daughters, and your sisters’ daughters…”
(Sūrah al-Nisā’: 23)
❀ Clarification
The relationship of māmānī (maternal uncle’s wife) and chachī (paternal uncle’s wife) is established through marriage, not through blood. Hence, they are not part of those women who are permanently forbidden for marriage, as mentioned in the Qur’ān.
If there exists no other Shar‘i barrier (such as a milk relationship or a bond that establishes prohibition), then marriage with them is permissible after the termination of their previous marriage (i.e., after divorce or death of the uncle and completion of ʿiddah).
✿ Conclusion
According to Islamic law, it is permissible to marry one’s māmānī or chachī, because they are not among the women permanently prohibited for marriage. The permissibility is conditioned upon the absence of any other Shar‘i prohibition.
