How should a married woman interact with her sister's husband and her paternal and maternal uncles' children? Is maintaining ties with these individuals considered an obligatory act of kinship? And is congratulating them on holidays, inquiring about them, and speaking with them within limits considered forbidden?
Scholars have differed on the exact definition of the kin ( رحم ) whose ties must be maintained. The preponderant view is that it is forbidden to sever ties with unmarriageable kin ( ذي الرحم المحرم ), such as brothers, sisters, paternal uncles, paternal aunts, maternal uncles, and maternal aunts. It is disliked to sever ties with marriageable kin ( ذي الرحم غير المحرم ), such as paternal cousins and maternal cousins.
A sister's husband is not considered kin ( من الأرحام ). The شرع (Islamic law) mandates observing specific regulations when dealing with non- male relatives and a sister's husband. It is not permissible to be in seclusion with them, nor to display inner adornments to them, nor to shake hands with them.
Speaking with them is permissible if there is no fear of temptation ( فتنة ) and no suspicion ( ريبة ), and if the conversation is serious, devoid of submissiveness, and limited to what is necessary. However, if there is a fear of temptation or if suspicion arises, then refraining from speaking becomes obligatory.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/132011
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 132011
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy