Stepfather a Mahram to his stepdaughters?

· 3 Jumada I 1437 AH1 min readEnglish
*Islamic RulingsFamily MattersFemale IssuesFiqhThe Muslim Woman

Question

I was divorced and I remarried. I have one son from my second wife. My second wife has two daughters from her previous marriage. One is 18 and the other is 22. Am I a Mahram to my second wife’s two daughters?

Answer

Yes, you are a Mahram (non-stranger) to your stepdaughters. This ruling is conditional on the stepfather consummating his marriage with the mother of his stepchildren. If the marriage was not consummated, then he will not be a Mahram to his stepdaughters as per the Law of the Quran.

Allah Ta’ala states:“Prohibited (in marriage) for you are…your step-daughters from women with whom you have had intercourse. If you have not had intercourse with them, there is no sin on you (your step-daughters would not be prohibited for you). [Surah Nisa 4/24]

And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best

Answered by
Mufti Ismaeel Bassa
Checked by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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