Relationship with in-laws after the demise of one's husband
Question
When a husband passes away a) does the husbands father (father inlaw) remain a mahram for the wife? b) does the wife still have to go and visit her father in law? Or does she no longer have any relation with her inlaws? c) is it appropriate for the wife to say that that is my 'father inlaw' and 'mother inlaw'?
Answer
1) Yes
2) Since she is no longer in their family, she does not have to maintain the same relationship that she needed to maintain during the lifetime of her husband.
3) She should show a degree of consideration and respect to them. She should refer to them by saying that they were her father in law and mother in law.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
- Answered by
- Mufti Zakaria Makada
- Checked & approved by
- Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
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