Question
Who are a man’s mahram and non-mahram in Islam?
Short Summary
A man’s mahram consists of women he can never marry due to blood relations, marital relations, or breastfeeding (radaʿah) ties. Women outside these categories are non-mahram, and marriage to them is permissible under Shariah.
Below is an exhaustive table of a man’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) and (Qur’an 4:23 ) |
| 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 the 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 is 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 is permissible if no consummation occurred. |
| Step-grandmother (Wife of Grandfather, Not Consummated) | Marriage is 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. |
What This Means for You
A man’s mahrams are limited to those permanently forbidden for him to marry by blood, marriage, or breastfeeding. All others remain non-mahram and require observing the rulings of hijab and Shariah etiquette.
And Allah knows best
References
Primary Sources:
- Qur’an 4:22–23
- Qur’an 33:4
- Sahih al-Bukhari 5232
- Sahih Muslim 2172
Secondary Sources:
- Ibn Kathir, Tafsir (on 4:23)
- Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni (on mahram categories)
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