Who are Mahram and non-mahram in Islam? This is an important question. Whether a Muslim’s marriage is valid or invalid depends on the answer to this question.
So, in today’s blog, we discuss the answer to this question in detail. Hopefully, it will be beneficial for Muslim brothers and sisters.
What is the Mahram meaning?
The word Mahram comes from the Arabic word ‘Haram. In Islamic terminology, Mahram refers to men and women with whom it is Haram to enter into marriage.
Who is the Mahram in Islam?
A mahram in Islam is a man or woman whom it is permissible to approach, to speak to when necessary, and to whom it is forbidden to marry.
There are two main types of Mahram.
The first type is those with whom marriage is Haram forever. They are divided into three classes.
One: Because of hereditary relationships. For example, the mother, grandmother, and grandmother are all included. Inferior people give birth to defective offspring, thus propagating their inferiority.
Thus, the daughters of the superiors, such as the father’s mother, father’s daughter, mother’s daughter (niece and nephew), and nieces and nephews, are included.
Grandmother, uncle, grandfather, grandmother’s daughter, such as aunt, step-aunt, and step-aunt.
Two: Due to the relationship of milk, such as milk mother, milk sister, and related grandmothers, etc. In general, it is haraam to marry as many women as blood and heredity, but it is also Haram to match as many women because of milk relations.
Three: Childhood or marital reasons. Such as mother-in-law, grandmother-in-law, grandmother-in-law, etc. Father’s wife or mother-in-law, daughter-in-law, etc., belong to this category.
The ex-husband and daughter of the cohabiting wife are also harams in all cases. The girl may come with her mother and be raised under the care of this person or elsewhere.
However, this type of daughter usually comes with the mother. So this girl is Haram in all cases.
Secondly, Temporarily forbidden. For example, it is Haram to marry a wife, her sister, aunts, and uncles together. Of course, it is not haraam to match separately.
If the wife dies or divorces, he can marry his sister. In the same way, in the case of aunts and uncles, there will be menstruation.
It is Haram to marry a woman who is married to someone else or to marry a woman who is observing the waiting period.
Mahram list for a man
Like mother 5
- Mother, honest mother
- Grandmother (mother’s mother), honest grandmother
- Grandmother (father’s mother), honest grandmother
- Mother-in-law (wife’s mother), honest mother-in-law
- Breastfeeding (a mother who was breastfed as a child)
Five like sisters
- Cousin
- Aunt (mother’s sister)
- Uncle (father’s sister)
- Granddaughter (daughter of your son and daughter)
- Milk-sister
Four people like a girl
- Girl
- Brother’s daughter
- Sister’s daughter
- Son’s wife
Mahram list for woman
Four people like father
- Father
- Uncle
- Mama
- Father-in-law
Five people like brother
- Cousin
- Your grandfather
- Own grandparents
- Own grandson
- Milk-brother
Five like a boy
- Boy
- Brother’s son
- Sister’s son
- Daughter-in-law
- Milk-boy
Who is non-mahram in Islam?
All women and men are non-mahrams except the 14 types of men and women discussed above. That is, marriage between them is halal.
Allah Ta’ala has forbidden only 14 types of women except for all Muslim men, and women worldwide are halal for each other.
This is a special grace of Allah Ta’ala on the Muslim nation. Therefore, all Muslims should abide by the way of life given by Allah Ta’ala.
In this lies the happiness and peace of all in this world and the hereafter. May Allah grant Tawfiq to all.
Types of Mahram in Islam
Those who are Mahram among blood relatives are mentioned in the words of Allah in Surah Noor: “Let them not reveal their adornment, except in front of the following: husband, father, husband’s father, own son, husband’s son, brother, brother’s son, sister’s son. ….[Surah Noor, Verse: 31]
The commentators say: The mahram men who are related by blood to the woman are – those mentioned in this verse or those who have evidence in this verse; They are-
One: Fathers. That is fathers of women, no matter how high. Be it from father’s side or mother’s side. That is, fathers’ fathers or mothers’ fathers. However, the husbands’ fathers will be Mahram regarding marital relations, which will be discussed later.
Two: Boys. That is the sons of women. These would include children’s children, no matter how low, whether from the son’s or daughter’s side.
That is, be it the son’s or daughter’s son. On the other hand, the husband’s sons: the verse calls them ‘sons of the husband’s other wife’; They will be Mahram due to marital relationship, Not because of blood relation. We will describe that shortly.
Three: Woman’s brother. Let the brothers be brothers, Or be a brother of Vaimatreya; Or a half-brother.
Four: Nephews: No matter how low it is, from the son’s or girl’s sides. For example, sons of sister’s daughters.
Five: Uncle and Uncle. These two classes are Mahram as blood relatives. But, they are not mentioned in the mentioned verse. Because they are in the status of parents. To humans, they belong to the parental stage. An uncle is sometimes called a father.
Allah Ta’ala says: “Were you present when the death of Ya’qub was near? When he said to the children: Whom will you worship after me? They said, We will worship the God of your fathers Abraham, Ishmael and Isaac. He is the only God.”
Those who are Mahram because of drinking milk
A woman’s Mahram can sometimes be known for drinking milk. In Tafsir al-Alusi, it is permissible for a mahram to expose a woman’s adornment in front of a mahram, just as it is known by blood relationship and drinking milk. Therefore, it is permissible for a woman to reveal her adornment before her foster father and child. [Tafseer Alusi (18/143)]
Because those who become mahrams because of drinking milk are like blood-related mahrams, Marital relations with them are forbidden forever. While commenting on the verse above, Imam Jassus points out:
“When Allah Ta’ala mentioned the mahrams and the patriarchs with whom marriage is prohibited forever, this proved that his ruling on becoming a mahram is the same as their ruling on them. For example, the mother-in-law and the milk-drinking Mahram etc. [Ahkamul Qur’an (3/317)]
A woman’s milk relatives are like blood relatives.
The jurists have clearly stated in the light of the Qur’an and Sunnah that those who become mahrams of a woman because of drinking milk are like blood-related mahrams. Therefore, it is permissible to reveal the adornment to the milk relatives, Just as it is permissible to show decoration to blood relatives. Seeing all those parts of the woman for those Muharrams is permissible.
Those who are Mahram due to marital relationships in Islam
Men with whom marriage is permanently prohibited become Mahram due to marital relations. For example, father’s wife, son’s wife, wife’s mother. [Sharhul Muntaha 3/7]
Therefore, those who become Mahram due to marital relations: In the case of the father’s wife, he will be the child of another house of this woman. As the child’s wife is the father. The wife’s mother, as he is the husband. Allah Ta’ala says in Surah Al-Noor:
“And let them not reveal their beauty to anyone except their husband, father, father-in-law, son, husband’s son…” [Surah Noor, Ayah: 31] Father-in-law, husband’s son is Mahram through marital relations. Allah Ta’ala mentions this class with the woman’s father and son, giving equal rules in revealing adornment. [Al-Mughni (6/555)]