A man married a woman and divorced her before seclusion with her; are the man's sons considered mahram (a relative one may not marry) to her?
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The questioner : A man married a woman and then divorced her before any seclusion or physical contact took place. What is the ruling regarding the sons?
The Shaykh : The sons?
The questioner : The man's sons from a second wife.
The Shaykh : Yes, well, the ruling is that this divorced wife is a mahram (a relative one may not marry) to them, meaning they are among her mahram (a relative one may not marry). This means: it is permissible for them to travel with her, be in seclusion with her, and for her to uncover her face before them, unless there is a cause that necessitates prohibition. This is because there may be fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) if one of the sons is in seclusion with her, as she is their father's wife whom he did not consummate the marriage with. They may not have the feeling or jealousy that would prevent them from committing the forbidden act. Otherwise, the principle is that if a man contracts a marriage with a woman and divorces her before seclusion and consummation, she becomes forbidden to him, and she does not uncover her face to him. However, regarding his sons, that is, his children, they are among her mahram (a relative one may not marry), and she uncovers her face to them, provided there is no fear of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation).
The Shaykh : The sons?
The questioner : The man's sons from a second wife.
The Shaykh : Yes, well, the ruling is that this divorced wife is a mahram (a relative one may not marry) to them, meaning they are among her mahram (a relative one may not marry). This means: it is permissible for them to travel with her, be in seclusion with her, and for her to uncover her face before them, unless there is a cause that necessitates prohibition. This is because there may be fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) if one of the sons is in seclusion with her, as she is their father's wife whom he did not consummate the marriage with. They may not have the feeling or jealousy that would prevent them from committing the forbidden act. Otherwise, the principle is that if a man contracts a marriage with a woman and divorces her before seclusion and consummation, she becomes forbidden to him, and she does not uncover her face to him. However, regarding his sons, that is, his children, they are among her mahram (a relative one may not marry), and she uncovers her face to them, provided there is no fear of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation).