Stepfather and the laws of Parda

Question

(Fatwa: #049)

I am a divorcee intending to marry Muslim very soon. I have full custody of my three daughters from my first marriage. My first husband is going to marry another person soon as well. I would like to know what Islam advises about my 3 daughters living with me and my second husband under one roof. How should my second husband treat my daughters? Is he allowed to touch them at all, if necessary?

ANSWER

Muhtaramah

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

حامدا و مصليا و مسلما

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

We have received your query regarding the laws relating to the stepfather, our response is as follows:

Our answer is based on the information furnished by you. We have understood from your question that you are enquiring about the laws of Hijaab.

Your husband will be a Mahram for all of your daughters i.e. marriage between the stepfather and stepdaughter will be impermissible. However, this ruling is conditional on the stepfather consummating the marriage with the mother of the daughters. [1] Thus, if the marriage is not consummated, then he will not be a Mahram to his stepdaughters.

Allah Ta’ala mentions:

وَرَبَائِبُكُمُ اللَّاتِي فِي حُجُورِكُم مِّن نِّسَائِكُمُ اللَّاتِي دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَإِن لَّمْ تَكُونُوا دَخَلْتُم بِهِنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ

“And those step-daughters of yours (girls who are born to your wife from another man) who are in your care and with whose mothers you have had intercourse (with whose mothers your marriage has been consummated)” ( Surah Nisaa V.23 )

However , even though the stepfather who consummates the marriage will be a Mahram of the stepdaughters, than too precaution should be exercised and a degree of Purdah should be maintained. Thus, touching the stepdaughters, remaining alone with them and travelling with them without the mother should be avoided.[2] Furthermore, stepdaughters should dress modestly in front of their stepfathers.

And Allah Ta’ala knows best

(Moulana) Abdushakoor Salim

Student of Darul Iftaa 

Checked and approved by:

(Mufti) Muhammad Irshad Motara

21st Safar 1443

29th September 2021

[1] أَمَّا بِنْتُ زَوْجَتِهِ فَتُحَرَّمُ عَلَيْهِ بِنَصِّ الْكِتَابِ الْعَزِيزِ إذَا كَانَ دَخَلَ بِزَوْجَتِهِ فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ دَخَلَ بِهَا فَلَا تُحَرَّمُ لِقَوْلِهِ: {وَرَبَائِبُكُمُ اللاتِي فِي حُجُورِكُمْ مِنْ نِسَائِكُمُ اللاتِي دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَلا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ} [النساء: 23] وَسَوَاءٌ كَانَتْ بِنْتُ زَوْجَتِهِ فِي حِجْرِهِ أَوْ لَا عِنْدَ عَامَّةِ الْعُلَمَاءِ

كتاب بدائع الصنائع في ترتيب الشرائع. ص259

وَبِنْتُ امْرَأَةٍ دَخَلَ بِهَا ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَدْخُلْ حَتَّى حَرُمَتْ عَلَيْهِ حَلَّ لَهُ تَزَوُّجُ الرَّبِيبِ لِقَوْلِهِ تَعَالَى {وَرَبَائِبُكُمُ اللاتِي فِي حُجُورِكُمْ مِنْ نِسَائِكُمُ اللاتِي دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَلا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ} [النساء: 23] وَالدُّخُولُ كِنَايَةٌ عَنْ الْجِمَاعِ وَذِكْرُ الْحِجْرِ فِي الْآيَةِ أُخْرِجَ مَخْرَجَ الْعَادَةِ لَا لِتَعَلُّقِ الْحُكْمِ بِهِ وَتَدْخُلُ فِي الرَّبِيبَةِ بَنَاتُهَا وَبَنَاتُ أَبْنَائِهَا وَإِنْ سَفَلْنَ

‏مجمع الأنهار، ص ٣٢٤، ج ١

(وَبِنْتِهَا إنْ دَخَلَ بِهَا) أَيْ بِنْتِ امْرَأَتِهِ إنْ دَخَلَ بِامْرَأَتِهِ لِثُبُوتِ قَيْدِ الدُّخُولِ فِيمَا تَلَوْنَا وَسَوَاءٌ كَانَتْ فِي حِجْرِهِ أَوْ فِي حِجْرِ غَيْرِهِ؛ لِأَنَّ ذِكْرَ الْحِجْرِ فِي النَّصِّ خَرَجَ مَخْرَجَ الْعَادَةِ لَا مَخْرَجَ الشَّرْطِ

تبيين الحقائق، ص ١٠٢، ج ٢

جس عورت سے زید نے نکاح کے بعد ہمبستری کی ہے ، اس کے لڑکی سے جو کہ اس کے پہلے خاوند سے ہے زید کا نکاح كبهي بھی اور کسے حالت میں بھی جإز نہیں ہے ، بالکل حرام ہے

‏فتاوى محمودية ، ص ٣١٧ ، ج ١١

[2] زید کی بیوی اس پر ہمیشہ کے لئی حرام ہوگئے ، حلال ہونے کی کوئ صورت نہیں ۔

‏أحسن الفتاوي ، ص ۸۶ ، ج ۵

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