The Prohibition of the Uncle’s and Brother’s Wives

Question:
Your Eminence the Shaykh, the questioner says: In our town, the uncle’s wife and the brother’s wife do not cover themselves in front of their husband’s nephews and brothers. When they are told about this, or when the men are told about it, they say that they do not look at them with desire or temptation, but that their hearts are pure. They also say that if they were to cover themselves from us, we might end up looking at them with temptation. We ask for guidance regarding their statement?

Answer:
This is a mistake. It is not permissible to uncover oneself before the uncle’s sons, the maternal uncle’s sons, or the husband’s brothers. None of them are mahram (relatives one may not marry). Rather, it is obligatory to observe hijab (the covering prescribed for women) and to avoid seclusion as well. Be careful about uncovering oneself and be careful about seclusion, whether with the uncle’s son, the maternal uncle’s son, the husband’s brother, or the husband’s uncle. None of them are mahram. Rather, one must be cautious. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: . It is obligatory for the believing woman to be cautious about being lax in this matter, whether with the husband’s brother, his uncle, his uncle’s son, or any other non-mahram. Yes.