A man’s mahram is a person whom he is never permitted to marry because of their close blood relationship or because of breastfeeding or because they are related by marriage.
Below is an exhaustive table of a men’s Mahram and non-Mahram
Relation Type: Blood Relations for men
| Relationship | Proof / Reason |
|---|---|
| Mother, Grandmother, Great-grandmother… | “And marry not women whom your fathers married…” (An-Nisa 4:22). |
| Daughter, Granddaughter, Great-granddaughter… | “Prohibited to you [for marriage] are… your daughters…” (An-Nisa 4:23). |
| Full Sister, Half-Sister | “Prohibited to you [for marriage] are… your sisters…” (An-Nisa 4:23). |
| Paternal Aunt, Maternal Aunt | “…and the sisters of your fathers and mothers…” (An-Nisa 4:23). |
| Brother’s Daughter, Sister’s Daughter | “…your brother’s daughters and your sister’s daughters…” (An-Nisa 4:23). |
| Full Neice, Half Neice (Brother’s Daughter, Sister’s Daughter) | “…your brother’s daughters and your sister’s daughters…” (An-Nisa 4:23). |
| Great-Aunts, Great-Nieces… | Direct ascendants/descendants of uncles/aunts are part of blood ties. |
| Relationship | Proof / Reason |
|---|---|
| Cousins (Paternal/Maternal) | Not mentioned as prohibited; marriage is permissible. |
| Distant Relatives (e.g., 2nd Cousins) | Not part of immediate family; marriage is permissible. |
Relation Type: Marriage Relations (Affinity) for men
| Relationship | Proof / Reason |
|---|---|
| Mother-in-law, Grandmother-in-law… | “…and the mothers of your wives…” (An-Nisa 4:23). |
| Stepdaughter, Step-granddaughter | “…and your stepdaughters under your guardianship…” (An-Nisa 4:23); requires consummation of marriage with her mother. |
| Daughter-in-law | “…the wives of your sons who are from your loins…” (An-Nisa 4:23). |
| Stepdaughter’s Descendants, Stepson’s Descendants | Marriage to the mother must be consummated; descendants are treated as Mahram. |
| Relationship | Proof / Reason |
|---|---|
| Sister-in-law | “The in-law is death.” (Bukhari 5232, Muslim 2172); marriage is permissible. |
| Wife’s Aunt, Wife’s Niece | Marriage is permissible unless it involves marrying two sisters simultaneously (An-Nisa 4:23). |
Relation Type: Breastfeeding Relations (Rada’ah) for men
| Relationship | Proof / Reason |
|---|---|
| Foster Mother (Breastfeeding Woman) | “Prohibited to you… your milk-mothers who nursed you.” (An-Nisa 4:23). |
| Foster Sister (Daughter of Foster Parents) | “…your milk-sisters…” (An-Nisa 4:23). |
| Foster Nephews/Nieces (Children of Foster Siblings) | Milk ties extend to the descendants of foster siblings. |
| Foster Grandparents (Parents of Foster Parents) | Milk ties extend to the ascendants of foster parents. |
| Foster Uncles/Aunts (Sisters of Foster Parents) | Milk ties extend to siblings of foster parents. |
| Foster Descendants (Children or Grandchildren of Foster Siblings) | Milk ties extend to all descendants of foster siblings. |
| Relationship | Proof / Reason |
|---|---|
| Wife of Foster Brother | Not directly related by milk ties; marriage is permissible. |
| Milk-Cousins (Cousins of Foster Siblings) | Marriage permissible unless direct milk ties exist. |
Relation Type: Step-Relations for men
| Relationship | Proof / Reason |
|---|---|
| Stepmother (Father’s Wife, Consummated Marriage) | “And marry not women whom your fathers married…” (An-Nisa 4:22). |
| Step-grandmother (Wife of Grandfather, Consummated Marriage) | Marriage to the grandfather must be consummated; Mahram ties extend to him. |
| Relationship | Proof / Reason |
|---|---|
| Stepmother (Father’s Wife, Not Consummated) | Marriage permissible if no consummation occurred. |
| Step-grandmother (Wife of Grandfather, Not Consummated) | Marriage permissible if no consummation occurred. |
| Stepson’s Wife | Not directly related; marriage is permissible. |
Relation Type: Other Relations for men
| Relationship | Proof / Reason |
|---|---|
| Adopted / Sponsered Children | “Nor has He made your adopted sons your [true] sons…” (Al-Ahzab 33:4); no Mahram ties exist. |
| (Female) Friends, Colleagues, Neighbors, Workers, Maids, Employees, Employers, Sales persons, etc. |
Not part of any blood, marital, or milk ties; marriage is permissible. |
| Non-Biological Guardians (e.g., foster parents) | Guardianship alone does not establish Mahram ties unless breastfeeding applies. |
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