Who are the mahram and non-mahram?
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The questioner : Who are the mahram and non-mahram?
The Shaykh : The mahram among men is everyone with whom marriage is not permissible on a permanent basis. Those with whom marriage is not permissible on a permanent basis are mentioned in the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:23] So it is not permissible for you to marry these women. Likewise, their counterparts through breastfeeding are prohibited, based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family): Sahih Muslim 1445i So the father through breastfeeding is a mahram to his daughter through breastfeeding, and the same is said regarding the rest of the seven categories of kinship.
Likewise, among those who are permanently prohibited are those mentioned by Allah the Exalted in His saying:[An-Nisa 4:22] So the son of a husband is a mahram to his father’s wife, no matter how high up the lineage goes.
Likewise, He also said:[An-Nisa 4:23] So the father of a husband is a mahram to his son’s wife, no matter how low down the lineage goes. And He said the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:23] So the husband of a mother is a mahram to her daughters from another man, on the condition that he has entered into marriage with her, meaning he has had sexual intercourse with her.
And Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said: So the husband of a daughter is a mahram to her mothers and grandmothers, no matter how high up the lineage goes.
So these are seven in kinship, seven in breastfeeding, and four in in-law relationships, making them eighteen women.
As for what is permissible to marry, it is not a mahram.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The mahram among men is everyone with whom marriage is not permissible on a permanent basis. Those with whom marriage is not permissible on a permanent basis are mentioned in the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Prohibited to you [for marriage] are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father's sisters, your mother's sisters, your brother's daughters, your sister's daughters
حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَاتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ وَأَخَوَاتُكُمْ وَعَمَّاتُكُمْ وَخَالاتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُ الأَخِ وَبَنَاتُ الأُخْتِon account of fosterage as one is Mahram on account of consanguinity
يحرم من الرضاعة ما يحرم من النسبLikewise, among those who are permanently prohibited are those mentioned by Allah the Exalted in His saying:
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 سَبِيلًاLikewise, He also said:
the wives of your sons who are from your [own] loins
وَحَلائِلُ أَبْنَائِكُمُ الَّذِينَ مِنْ أَصْلابِكُمْand 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.
وَرَبَائِبُكُمُ اللَّاتِي فِي حُجُورِكُمْ مِنْ نِسَائِكُمُ اللَّاتِي دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُونُوا دَخَلْتُمْ بِهِنَّ فَلا جُنَاحَ عَلَيْكُمْAnd Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said:
and the mothers of your wives
وَأُمَّهَاتُ نِسَائِكُمْSo these are seven in kinship, seven in breastfeeding, and four in in-law relationships, making them eighteen women.
As for what is permissible to marry, it is not a mahram.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.