And
marry not those women whom your fathers married, except what has already
happened (of that nature) in the past. Lo! it was ever lewdness and
abomination, and an evil way. Forbidden unto you are your mothers and
your daughters, and your sisters and your father's sisters and your
mother's sisters, and your brother's daughters and your sister's daughters,
and your foster-mothers and your foster-sisters, and your mothers-in-law
and your step-daughters who are under your mother-in-law and your step-daughters
who are under your protection (born) of your women unto whom you have
gone into -- but if you have not gone into them, then it is no sin for
you (to marry their daughters) -- and the wives of your sons from your
own loins, and that you should have two sisters together, except what
has already happened (of that nature) in the past. Allah is ever-Forgiving,
Merciful. (4:22 - 24)
From
the above verses, it is clear that a Muslim must never marry the following:
-
His
mother
-
His
step-mother (this practice continues in Yoruba land in Nigeria,
where in some cases the eldest son inherits the youngest wife of
his father)
-
His
grandmother (including father's and mother's mothers and all preceding
mothers e.g. great grandmothers )
-
His
daughter (including granddaughters and beyond )
-
His
sister (whether full, consanguine or uterine)
-
His
father's sisters (including paternal grandfather's sisters)
-
His
mother's sisters (including maternal grandmother's sisters)
-
His
brother's daughters
-
His
foster mother
-
His
foster mother's sister
-
His
sister's daughter
-
His
foster sister
-
His
wife's mother
-
His
step-daughter (i.e. a daughter by a former husband of a woman he
has married if the marriage has been consummated. However, if such
a marriage was not consummated, there is no prohibition)
-
His
real son's wife
A
great wisdom lies behind these prohibitions on the grounds of consanguinity,
affinity, and fosterage. No social cohesion can exist if people do not
keep these prohibitions in their minds while contracting marriages.
Temporary
prohibitions are those which arise only on account of certain special
circumstances in which the parties are placed. If the circumstances
change, the prohibition also disappears. They are as follows:
-
A
man must not have two sisters as wives at the same time nor can
he marry a girl and her aunt at the same time.
-
A
man must not marry a woman who is already married. However this
impediment is removed immediately if the marriage is dissolved either
by the death of her former husband, or by divorce followed by completion
of the period of 'iddah (retreat).
-
A
man must not have more than four wives at one time. This impediment
is, of course, removed as soon as one of the wives dies or is divorced.
-
A
man must not marry a woman during her 'iddah.
Regarding
this last prohibition, the Qur'an expects Muslims to act with the utmost
propriety and righteousness. It lays down:
...but
do not make a secret contract with them except in honourable terms,
nor resolve on the tie of marriage till the term prescribed is fulfilled.
(2:235)
This
means that a man must not make a specific proposal of marriage to a
woman during the time of her 'iddah after the death of her husband or
an irrevocable divorce. However, he can send a message saying, for instance,
"I wish to find a woman of good character". But if a woman
is in the 'iddah of a divorce which is revocable where raja' (return)
is possible, a man must not send her even an implied invitation to marry
him, because she is still considered as the lawful wife of the first
husband. In fact, this restriction is most beneficial because it prevents
a man from becoming an instrument of breaking up a family where there
are still chances of reconciliation between the wife and husband even
though they are moving away from each other.
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