The Paternal and Maternal Uncles in Relation to a Woman
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Fatwa No. ( 16068 )
Q: I hope you will inform me about the framework in which my relationship with my maternal uncles and paternal uncles should be, especially those among them who abandon prayer and are addicted to intoxicants, and is it permissible to be in seclusion with them — with one of them — if he is addicted to intoxicants and abandons prayer, and is it permissible for me to kiss them when I meet them and when shaking hands, if that is permissible?
A: Paternal and maternal uncles are mahram (relatives one may not marry) to a woman. She may uncover her face and her hands, and whatever is customary to uncover, provided there is no fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). It is permissible for her to be in seclusion with one of them, except if she fears fitnah from him, such as if he is an open sinner who is bold regarding the prohibitions. In that case, it is not permissible for her to be in seclusion with him. The questioner should advise those from whom she sees a violation of the Shari'ah. It is permissible for a woman to shake hands with her mahram and to
kiss him on the head if she does not fear fitnah from him. Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nur 24:31] It is prescribed for you to boycott them if you know that they do not pray, because abandoning prayer is major shirk (associating partners with Allah). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1079Sahih (Darussalam) Likewise, if you know that one of them openly declares drinking intoxicants, he deserves to be boycotted until he repents. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: I hope you will inform me about the framework in which my relationship with my maternal uncles and paternal uncles should be, especially those among them who abandon prayer and are addicted to intoxicants, and is it permissible to be in seclusion with them — with one of them — if he is addicted to intoxicants and abandons prayer, and is it permissible for me to kiss them when I meet them and when shaking hands, if that is permissible?
A: Paternal and maternal uncles are mahram (relatives one may not marry) to a woman. She may uncover her face and her hands, and whatever is customary to uncover, provided there is no fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). It is permissible for her to be in seclusion with one of them, except if she fears fitnah from him, such as if he is an open sinner who is bold regarding the prohibitions. In that case, it is not permissible for her to be in seclusion with him. The questioner should advise those from whom she sees a violation of the Shari'ah. It is permissible for a woman to shake hands with her mahram and to
kiss him on the head if she does not fear fitnah from him. Allah the Exalted said:
and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess, or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
وَلاَ يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَى جُيُوبِهِنَّ وَلاَ يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلاَّ لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَائِهِنَّ أَوْ أَبْنَاءِ بُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي إِخْوَانِهِنَّ أَوْ بَنِي أَخَوَاتِهِنَّ أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ أَوْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُهُنَّ أَوِ التَّابِعِينَ غَيْرِ أُولِي الْإِرْبَةِ مِنَ الرِّجَالِ أَوِ الطِّفْلِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يَظْهَرُوا عَلَى عَوْرَاتِ النِّسَاءِ وَلاَ يَضْرِبْنَ بِأَرْجُلِهِنَّ لِيُعْلَمَ مَا يُخْفِينَ مِنْ زِينَتِهِنَّ وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَThe covenant that distinguishes between us and them is prayer; so whoever leaves it, he has committed Kufr.
العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة، فمن تركها فقد كفر
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.