Is it permissible for a man to marry a woman and her maternal aunt?
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The questioner : A woman is married to a man, but she has not borne him any children. He wants to marry another woman, and she has chosen for him the daughter of his sister’s daughter. Is it permissible for him to marry her, so that she and her maternal aunt are both with one man?
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for a person to marry two women, one of whom is the maternal aunt of the other, or her paternal aunt, or her sister. As for two sisters, Allah the Exalted said among the prohibited categories:[An-Nisa 4:23] As for a woman and her paternal aunt, and a woman and her maternal aunt, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 1408a The rule in this matter, as mentioned by the scholars, is that whenever two women are prohibited from marrying each other, it is prohibited to marry both of them. That is, if one of them were a man, it would not be permissible for him to marry the other, so it is prohibited to marry both. Thus, a woman and her paternal aunt cannot marry each other if one of them were a man, and likewise a woman and her maternal aunt, and likewise two sisters.
As for marrying a woman and her maternal aunt’s daughter, or a woman and her paternal aunt’s daughter, there is nothing wrong with this, because a person is permitted to marry his maternal aunt’s daughter and permitted to marry his paternal aunt’s daughter. If one of these two women were a man, it would be permissible for him to marry the other. Therefore, it is permissible to marry a woman and her paternal aunt’s daughter, or a woman and her paternal uncle’s daughter, or a woman and her maternal aunt’s daughter, or a woman and her maternal uncle’s daughter.
The questioner : Based on this, is the situation described by the questioner not permissible to combine?
The Shaykh : Yes, and likewise, it is not permissible to marry a woman and her sister’s daughter, because a woman’s maternal aunt is the maternal aunt of everyone who descends from her, and a woman’s paternal aunt is the paternal aunt of everyone who descends from her, meaning from this woman.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : It is not permissible for a person to marry two women, one of whom is the maternal aunt of the other, or her paternal aunt, or her sister. As for two sisters, Allah the Exalted said among the prohibited categories:
and that you take [in marriage] two sisters simultaneously, except for what has already occurred
وَأَنْ تَجْمَعُوا بَيْنَ الأُخْتَيْنِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَOne should not combine a woman and her father's sister, nor a woman and her mother's sister in marriage.
لا يجمع بين المرأة وعمتها ولا بين المرأة وخالتهاAs for marrying a woman and her maternal aunt’s daughter, or a woman and her paternal aunt’s daughter, there is nothing wrong with this, because a person is permitted to marry his maternal aunt’s daughter and permitted to marry his paternal aunt’s daughter. If one of these two women were a man, it would be permissible for him to marry the other. Therefore, it is permissible to marry a woman and her paternal aunt’s daughter, or a woman and her paternal uncle’s daughter, or a woman and her maternal aunt’s daughter, or a woman and her maternal uncle’s daughter.
The questioner : Based on this, is the situation described by the questioner not permissible to combine?
The Shaykh : Yes, and likewise, it is not permissible to marry a woman and her sister’s daughter, because a woman’s maternal aunt is the maternal aunt of everyone who descends from her, and a woman’s paternal aunt is the paternal aunt of everyone who descends from her, meaning from this woman.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.