Thursday 18 Ramadan 1445 - 28 March 2024
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Types of Woman Not to Marry in Islam

Question

Are there any instances in Islam where it is permissible to marry a woman in some cases and it is not permissible to marry the same woman in other cases?

Summary of answer

Types of woman not to marry in Islam: • A woman who is in `Iddah. • A woman who has committed fornication or adultery until she repents and completes her `Iddah. • A woman whom you have divorced three times until she has been married to another man in a valid marriage. • A woman who is in Ihram. • Two sisters at the same time. • A woman and her maternal or paternal aunt at the same time. • More than four women at one time.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

“And do not consummate the marriage until the term prescribed is fulfilled.” [Al-Baqarah 2:235]

The wisdom behind that is that there is the possibility that she might be pregnant [from the first husband], and it would result in the sperm being mixed and the lineage being confused (i.e., if he were to marry her before the ‘Iddah was over).

“and the adulteress –fornicatress, none marries her except an adulterer — fornicator or a Mushrik]. Such a thing is prohibited to the believers (of Islamic Monotheism).” [Al-Nisa' 24:3]

“The divorce is twice … And if he has divorced her (the third time), then she is not lawful unto him thereafter until she has married another husband…” [Al-Baqarah 2:229-230]

“Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: … and to combine two sisters (in marriage, simultaneously).” [Al-Nisa' 4:23]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) explained the reason behind that when he said, “If you do that, then you have broken the ties of kinship.” That is because of the jealousy that exists between co-wives, and if one of them is related to the other, the ties of kinship between them will be cut. But if a woman is divorced and her `Iddah is over, then her sister, paternal aunt and maternal aunt become permissible for marriage (to that man), because the reason for the prohibition has ceased to exist. 

“then marry (other) women of your choice, two or three, or four.” [Al-Nisa' 4:3]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) commanded those who were married to more than four women to divorce some of them when they entered Islam. 

And Allah knows best. 

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Source: Al-Mulakhkhas al-Fiqhi by Shaykh Salih ibn Fawzan al-Fawzan, 2/271