[Q 394] Can a Nephew Marry His Aunt-in-Law?

Question:

Can a real nephew marry his widowed aunt after the death of his uncle? Please give a complete and detailed answer.

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایة الحق والصواب

ANSWER:

Yes, a biological nephew (the son of the deceased’s brother) may marry his uncle’s widow after the uncle’s death, provided that she has completed her ‘iddat (waiting period). This is because, in the sacred Islamic law, an uncle’s wife is not among those women with whom nikah (marriage) is permanently forbidden. Therefore, once the ‘iddat has passed, marriage with the aunt-in-law becomes halal.

Allah Almighty, while listing the women who are haram for marriage, says in the Qur’an:

حُرِّمَتْ عَلَیْكُمْ اُمَّهٰتُكُمْ وَ بَنٰتُكُمْ وَ اَخَوٰتُكُمْ وَ عَمّٰتُكُمْ وَ خٰلٰتُكُمْ وَ بَنٰتُ الْاَخِ وَ بَنٰتُ الْاُخْتِ وَ اُمَّهٰتُكُمُ الّٰتِيْٓ اَرْضَعْنَكُمْ وَ اَخَوٰتُكُمْ مِّنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ وَ اُمَّهٰتُ نِسَآىٕكُمْ وَ رَبَآىٕبُكُمُ الّٰتِیْ فِیْ حُجُوْرِكُمْ مِّنْ نِّسَآىٕكُمُ الّٰتِیْ دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ٘-فَاِنْ لَّمْ تَكُوْنُوْا دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَیْكُمْ٘ وَ حَلَآىٕلُ اَبْنَآىٕكُمُ الَّذِیْنَ مِنْ اَصْلَابِكُمْۙ-وَ اَنْ تَجْمَعُوْا بَیْنَ الْاُخْتَیْنِ اِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِیْمًاۙ

(Qur’an, Part 4, Surah An-Nisa, Ayah 23)

Translation (Kanz-ul-Irfan): Forbidden for you ˹to marry˺ are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal aunts, your brother’s daughters, your sister’s daughters, your ˹milk˺ mothers who suckled you, your milk-sisters, the mothers of your wives, the step-daughters in your care ˹born˺ of those ˹wives˺ with whom you have consummated marriage—if you have not consummated your marriage with them, there is no harm in marrying their daughters, the wives of your sons, and two sisters together—except that which occurred in the past. Indeed, Allah is Most-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.

From this verse, it is clear that marrying women outside the categories mentioned is allowed. Furthermore, Allah Almighty says in Surah An-Nisa (Part 4, Ayah 3):

‎فَانْكِحُوْا مَا طَابَ لَكُمْ مِّنَ النِّسَآءِ مَثْنٰى وثُلٰثَ ورُبٰعَۚ-

Translation (Kanz-ul-Irfan): So, marry those women whom you like- two or three or four.

Translation checked by Mawlana Zunurain

Date: 14th April 2025.