Are the second, third, and fourth wives of the wife's father considered mahram (forbidden to marry) to her husband, or is the mahram status limited to the wife's mother only?
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The questioner : Are the second, third, and fourth wives of my wife's father considered among my mahram (forbidden to marry), such that it is permissible for me and for them to uncover and shake hands, or is the mahram status limited to the wife's mother only?
The Shaykh : If a man marries a woman and contracts the marriage, the wife's mother, her mother's mother, and her mother's mother's mother, however high up the lineage, become his mahram (forbidden to marry). It is permissible for her to uncover herself before him, and it is permissible for him to shake her hand. The principle in this matter is that when a man contracts a marriage with a woman, he becomes mahram (forbidden to marry) to all her mothers, however high up the lineage, and he becomes mahram (forbidden to marry) to her daughters if he has consummated the marriage. Just as the man's fathers become mahram (forbidden to marry) to his wife, his fathers however high up the lineage, and his sons, however low down the lineage, also become mahram (forbidden to marry) to his wife. Here there are four types: the husband's ancestors and descendants become mahram (forbidden to marry) to the wife simply by the contract, even if he has not consummated the marriage; the wife's ancestors become mahram (forbidden to marry) to the husband simply by the contract, even if he has not consummated the marriage; and the wife's descendants become mahram (forbidden to marry) to the husband on the condition that he consummates the marriage, meaning that he has intercourse with her, by the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:22] and by His saying in the verses of prohibition: [An-Nisa 4:23].
The questioner : Is his question about the wives of the wife's father, other than her mother?
The Shaykh : As for the wives of the wife's father, other than her mother, it is not permissible for the husband to shake their hands, nor is it permissible for them to uncover their faces in his presence, because they are not mahram (forbidden to marry) to him.
The Shaykh : If a man marries a woman and contracts the marriage, the wife's mother, her mother's mother, and her mother's mother's mother, however high up the lineage, become his mahram (forbidden to marry). It is permissible for her to uncover herself before him, and it is permissible for him to shake her hand. The principle in this matter is that when a man contracts a marriage with a woman, he becomes mahram (forbidden to marry) to all her mothers, however high up the lineage, and he becomes mahram (forbidden to marry) to her daughters if he has consummated the marriage. Just as the man's fathers become mahram (forbidden to marry) to his wife, his fathers however high up the lineage, and his sons, however low down the lineage, also become mahram (forbidden to marry) to his wife. Here there are four types: the husband's ancestors and descendants become mahram (forbidden to marry) to the wife simply by the contract, even if he has not consummated the marriage; the wife's ancestors become mahram (forbidden to marry) to the husband simply by the contract, even if he has not consummated the marriage; and the wife's descendants become mahram (forbidden to marry) to the husband on the condition that he consummates the marriage, meaning that he has intercourse with her, by the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And do not marry those [women] whom your fathers married, except what has already occurred. Indeed, it was an immorality and hateful [to Allah] and was evil as a way.
وَلا تَنكِحُوا مَا نَكَحَ آبَاؤُكُمْ مِنَ النِّسَاءِ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَمَقْتًا وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًاyour wives' mothers, and your step-daughters under your guardianship [born] of your wives unto whom you have gone in. But if you have not gone in unto them, there is no sin upon you. And [also prohibited are] the wives of your sons who are from your [own] loins
وَأُمَّهَاتُ نِسَائِكُمْ وَرَبَائِبُكُمُ اللَّاتِي فِي حُجُورِكُمْ مِنْ نِسَائِكُمُ اللَّاتِي دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَلا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَحَلائِلُ أَبْنَائِكُمُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ أَصْلابِكُمْThe questioner : Is his question about the wives of the wife's father, other than her mother?
The Shaykh : As for the wives of the wife's father, other than her mother, it is not permissible for the husband to shake their hands, nor is it permissible for them to uncover their faces in his presence, because they are not mahram (forbidden to marry) to him.