Mahram for son-in-law?

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

What do respected scholars of Islam and Muftis of Shari’ah say about the following issue? Whether observance of Purdah(veil) between a mother-in-law and a son-in-law is Wajib or not from Shar’i point of view? And is Purdah to be observed or not between a man and the paternal and maternal grandmothers of his wife? Please guide us.

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

Observance of Purdah(veil) between a mother-in-law and a son-in-law is not Wajib because Nikah between them is Haraam [prohibited] forever due to Hurmat-e-Musaharat. And Purdah is not Wajib between the two persons whose Nikah with each other is Haraam forever. However, this prohibition is not based on lineage but rather it is based on Musaharat i.e. in-laws relationship, therefore, observance of Purdah is not also forbidden. If the woman wants to observe Purdah, she has the option of observing it. In fact, if the mother-in-law is young, it is better for her to observe Purdah with the son-in-law. And, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forbid, if there is a risk of mischief(Fitna), it will be Wajib to observe Purdah in this particular case.

The very same ruling on observing Purdah with one’s mother-in-law will also be applied to the paternal and maternal grandmothers of one’s wife. That is to say, since Nikah with the mother of one’s wife, i.e. with the mother-in-law is Haraam due to Hurmat-e-Musaharat; similarly, Nikah with the paternal and maternal grandmothers of one’s wife is also Haraam forever.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

Answered by:Mufti Fuzail Raza Attari