Is a brother's wife like a son's wife or a father's wife?
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The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No, a brother's wife is not like a son's wife or a father's wife. A brother's wife is not a mahram (a relative one may not marry) to her husband's brother, so she must cover herself in his presence just as she covers herself in the presence of a non-mahram. In fact, if it were said that she should cover herself even more in the presence of her husband's brother than in the presence of a man in the street, that would have a basis. Because if she uncovers her face in the presence of her husband's brother while they are in the house, the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) becomes greater. That is, the moment he enters the house, Satan may have incited him, and he might try to deceive her. But in the street, if a man looks at her and is attracted to her, he cannot do anything. The important point is that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) pointed to this issue when he said:Mishkat al-Masabih 3102 meaning, so beware of them. Is the answer clear now? So, a woman's husband's brother is not a mahram to her. Is a woman's husband's father a mahram or not? He is a mahram. What about a woman's husband's son? He is a mahram. Yes.
The Shaykh : No, a brother's wife is not like a son's wife or a father's wife. A brother's wife is not a mahram (a relative one may not marry) to her husband's brother, so she must cover herself in his presence just as she covers herself in the presence of a non-mahram. In fact, if it were said that she should cover herself even more in the presence of her husband's brother than in the presence of a man in the street, that would have a basis. Because if she uncovers her face in the presence of her husband's brother while they are in the house, the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) becomes greater. That is, the moment he enters the house, Satan may have incited him, and he might try to deceive her. But in the street, if a man looks at her and is attracted to her, he cannot do anything. The important point is that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) pointed to this issue when he said: