Who you cannot marry: the other causes
Beyond family and fosterage, marriage is also barred by combining certain women, by ownership, by religion, and by an existing marriage or waiting period.
A few more things also stop a marriage from being allowed.
Other reasons a marriage is not allowed
- A man cannot be married to two sisters at the same time, or to a woman and her aunt at the same time.
- A free man cannot have more than four wives at the same time.
- A man cannot marry a woman who does not believe in one God, like an idol-worshipper, unless she becomes Muslim first. A Muslim woman can only marry a Muslim man.
- If a man divorces his wife for the third time, he cannot marry her again unless she has genuinely married someone else in between and that marriage has ended.
- A man cannot marry a woman who is already married to someone else, or who is still in her waiting period after a divorce or her husband's death.
A man may not be married to two sisters at the same time, or to a woman and her aunt at the same time. A free man may not have more than four wives at once.
12345A man may not marry an idol-worshipper unless she becomes Muslim, and a Muslim woman may only marry a Muslim man. A wife divorced for the third time cannot be remarried until she has genuinely married someone else and that marriage has ended. A woman who is already married, or still in her waiting period, cannot be married.
1234The Fourth Cause: Combination (ijtima'). It is prohibited to marry two sisters together in a valid marriage, and it is prohibited to combine any two women whose relationship would bar marriage between them if one were hypothetically a man: a paternal aunt with her niece, for example, or a maternal aunt with her niece. This applies whether the two are married at the same time, or one is married while already married to the other, and whether the relationship is by blood or by fosterage.
Combination also limits how many wives a man may have at once: a free man may have up to four wives, a slave up to two. Marrying more than the limit at once makes the extra marriages invalid, and a man with four wives may not marry a fifth until a divorced wife's iddah has ended.
It is haram to combine two sisters in marriage, or a woman with her paternal or maternal aunt, whether by blood or by fosterage, and marrying during the other woman's waiting period (iddah) counts as combining. A free man may not have more than four wives at once, and a slave more than two; marriages beyond the limit are invalid.
12345The Fifth Cause: Ownership. A woman may not marry her own slave, and a master's marriage to his own slave woman is likewise not valid, since the legal effects of marriage, such as dowry and divorce, would serve no purpose where he may already have relations with her without a marriage contract.
The Sixth Cause: Bringing a slave girl into an existing marriage. A woman already married to a free man may not also marry her own slave-girl to him, nor may he marry them both at once.
The Seventh Cause: Polytheism. Marrying a polytheist woman, an idol-worshipper or fire-worshipper, is not permitted unless she becomes Muslim, and marrying an apostate (someone who has left Islam) is likewise not permitted. A Muslim woman may not marry a man of any other religion. A Muslim man may marry a woman of the People of the Book (one who follows a revealed scripture and a prophet's law, such as Jews or Christians), provided she is not herself an idol-worshipper, though it is better avoided where possible.
The Eighth Cause: Divorce before halalah. A man who has divorced his wife three times may not remarry her, unless she first marries another man after her iddah, that marriage is consummated, and it then ends (by his divorce, his death, or her khula), after which, once her new iddah is complete, she becomes lawful for the first husband again.
The Ninth Cause: Being married to, or in the waiting period of, another. It is prohibited to marry a woman who is already married, or who is observing an iddah, whether from divorce or from her husband's death, including a woman pregnant as part of an iddah, who remains prohibited until she delivers.
| Category | Who or what is prohibited |
|---|---|
| Combining mahram women | Two sisters, or a woman together with her paternal or maternal aunt, at the same time |
| Combining during iddah | Marrying a second woman while a divorced wife's iddah has not yet ended |
| Over the limit of wives | A fifth wife for a free man already married to four, or a third for a slave already married to two |
| Ownership | A woman marrying her own slave; a master marrying his own slave-woman |
| Bringing in a slave-girl | A free wife's own slave-girl also marrying her husband |
| Polytheists and apostates | A non-believer such as an idol- or fire-worshipper, unless she embraces Islam; a Muslim who has left Islam |
| Triple divorce before halalah | Remarrying a wife divorced three times, before she has validly married and been divorced by another |
| Married to or pregnant by another | A woman already married, in her iddah, or carrying another man's child |
It is haram to marry a polytheist woman unless she embraces Islam, and a Muslim woman may marry only a Muslim man. A wife divorced three times is haram to her former husband until she has married another man, that marriage has been consummated and ended, and her waiting period (iddah) is complete. A woman already married or observing an iddah, including one that ends with childbirth, is haram until it ends.
1234وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنٰٓي اِنَّهٗ كَانَ فَاحِشَةًؕ وَسَا࢜ءَ سَبِيْلًا ٣٢
Wa lā taqrabu'z-zinā innahū kāna fāḥishatan wa sāʾa sabīlā
And approach not adultery, undoubtedly that is immodesty and a very vile path.
Qurʼan 17:32, Al-Isra, from Zujajah.org
The Fourth Cause (Ijtimāʿ): combination falls into two categories, combining maḥram women and combining non-maḥram women beyond the permitted number.
Combining maḥram women in a valid nikah is prohibited: marrying two sisters together, and marrying any two women whose relationship would be mutually prohibitive were either hypothetically male, a phuppī (paternal aunt) with her bhatījī (niece), or a khālah (maternal aunt) with her bhanjī (niece), regardless of whether the relation is by nasab or raḍāʿah, and whether ḥaqīqī, ʿallātī or akhyāfī. The prohibition arises whether both marriages are contracted simultaneously or the second follows the first, and contracting during another's ʿiddah is treated as combining for this purpose.
Where the two marriages are simultaneous, both are invalid. Where one follows the other, the first remains valid and the second is invalid; and if the second, invalid marriage has been consummated, relations with the first wife are suspended until the second woman's ʿiddah is complete, notwithstanding that her own marriage remains valid throughout.
12Combining non-maḥram women is limited by the number the Sharīʿah permits: a free man up to four wives, a slave up to two, whether contracted together or across separate marriages. Marrying beyond four at once invalidates the marriages with the excess; marrying additional women after already holding four likewise invalidates the additional contracts; and a man with four wives may not contract a fifth until a divorced wife's ʿiddah is complete.
Combination (ijtima') of two sisters, or of a woman with her paternal or maternal aunt, whether by lineage (nasab) or fosterage (rada'ah), is haram, and contracting during the other woman's waiting period (iddah) is treated as combining. A free man may hold no more than four wives at once and a slave no more than two; contracts beyond the limit are invalid.
12345The Fifth Cause (Milk: Ownership): a woman who owns a slave may not marry him, and a master's nikah with his own slave-woman is void in substance; the aḥkām of nikah such as mahr and divorce would be inoperative, since he may lawfully have relations with a slave-woman he owns without a marriage contract at all.
The Sixth Cause (bringing a slave-girl into a free woman's marriage): a woman married to a free man may not also give her own slave-girl in marriage to him, nor may he contract marriage with both simultaneously.
The Seventh Cause (Shirk: Polytheism): nikah with a polytheist woman (idol- or fire-worshipper) is not valid unless she embraces Islam, and nikah with a murtaddah (a woman who has apostatised from Islam) is likewise invalid. A Muslim woman may not marry a man of any religion other than Islam. A Muslim man may marry a woman of Ahl al-Kitāb (one who follows a revealed scripture (Zabūr, Tawrāh, Injīl) and the sharīʿah of a prophet sent to her, such as Jews and Christians, even where their beliefs have since deviated and their scripture and sharīʿah been abrogated), provided she does not herself practise idol-worship, though it is preferable to avoid such a marriage where possible.
The Eighth Cause (divorce before ḥalālah): a man who has issued three divorces to his wife, whether in one sitting or over time, renders her ḥarām to him permanently (mughallaẓah), and he may not remarry her, until she marries another man after her ʿiddah, that marriage is consummated, and it then ends by his divorce, his death, or her khulʿ; once her ensuing ʿiddah is complete, she again becomes lawful (ḥalāl) to the first husband. This is termed ḥalālah.
The Ninth Cause (manqūḥah or muʿtaddah of another): marrying a woman already married, or observing an ʿiddah, from ṭalāq or from her husband's death, is prohibited, including a woman whose ʿiddah is a pregnancy from that marriage, who remains prohibited until she delivers.
| Category | Who or what is prohibited |
|---|---|
| Combining maḥram women (ijtimāʿ) | Two sisters, or a woman together with her paternal or maternal aunt, whether by nasab or raḍāʿah |
| Combining during ʿiddah | Marrying a second woman before a divorced wife's ʿiddah has ended |
| Over the numerical limit | A fifth wife for a free man already holding four; a third for a slave already holding two |
| Ownership (milk) | A woman marrying her own slave; a master's marriage to his own slave-woman |
| Bringing in a slave-girl | A free wife's own slave-girl also marrying her husband, together or in sequence |
| Shirk and apostasy | A polytheist not yet Muslim; a murtaddah; a Muslim woman marrying a non-Muslim man |
| Triple divorce before ḥalālah | Remarrying a thrice-divorced wife before an intervening valid, consummated marriage and its own ʿiddah |
| Manqūḥah or muʿtaddah of another | A woman already married, in ʿiddah, or carrying another man's child |
Nikah with a polytheist (mushrikah) or an apostate (murtaddah) is invalid unless she embraces Islam, and a Muslim woman may not marry a non-Muslim man. A thrice-divorced wife is haram to her former husband until halalah: a valid, consummated marriage to another man that then ends, followed by the completion of her iddah. A woman who is married (manquhah) or in iddah (mu'taddah), including a pregnancy iddah that ends only with delivery, is haram to marry.
1234وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنٰٓي اِنَّهٗ كَانَ فَاحِشَةًؕ وَسَا࢜ءَ سَبِيْلًا ٣٢
Wa lā taqrabu'z-zinā innahū kāna fāḥishatan wa sāʾa sabīlā
And approach not adultery, undoubtedly that is immodesty and a very vile path.
Qurʼan 17:32, Al-Isra, from Zujajah.org
This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 1,982 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.
Rulings of Nikah
The Fourth Cause (Combination):
Combining multiple women in marriage is referred to as Combination (Ijtima). This has two categories:
- Combining Mahram Women.
- Combining Non-Mahram Women.
1. Explanation of Combining Mahram Women:
It is prohibited to marry two sisters in a valid marriage contract.
[If the marriage is invalid, this prohibition does not apply. For instance, if a man enters into an invalid marriage with a woman and then contracts a valid marriage with her sister, this is permissible because cohabitation in an invalid marriage is not lawful.]
It is also prohibited to combine two women who share a relationship such that, if one is hypothetically considered a man, marriage between them would be forbidden. Examples include:
A paternal aunt (Phuppi) and a niece (Bhatiji): if the aunt were a man, it would be unlawful for her to marry her niece, or if the niece were considered a man, she could not marry her aunt. Similar law applies for maternal aunt (Khala) and a niece (Bhanji). [This prohibition applies regardless of whether the women are related by blood (Nasab) or breastfeeding (Rada'ah), and whether the relationship is full, paternal, or maternal (Haqiqi, Allati, or Akhyafi)].
The combination is prohibited in two scenarios:
- If marriage with both women is contracted at the same time.
- If one is already in marriage and the man marries the other.
Additionally, contracting marriage during a waiting period (Iddah) is also considered combining and is prohibited.
For example, if a man divorces one woman and then marries another before the waiting period of the divorced wife ends, this is considered combining and is prohibited.
However, there is a difference:
If the man contracts marriage with both women at the same time, both marriages will be invalid.
If he marries one first and then the second, the first marriage remains valid, while the second one becomes invalid.
If the man has consummated the second invalid marriage, then until the waiting period (Iddah) of the second woman ends, it will not be lawful for him to have relations with the first wife, even though her marriage remains valid.
2. Explanation of Combining Non-Mahram Women:
The number of marriages permitted by Islamic law cannot be exceeded.
Note: Islamic law allows a free man to have up to four wives simultaneously, while a slave is allowed up to two wives, whether at the same time or in separate marriages.
If a man marries more than four women at once, the marriages with all of them will be invalid.
If he has already married some women and later marries others, resulting in a total exceeding four, the marriages with the additional women will be invalid.
If a man has four wives and divorces one, he cannot marry a fifth woman until the waiting period (Iddah) of the divorced wife is completed.
The Fifth Cause (Ownership):
A woman who is the owner of a slave is prohibited from marrying her slave. Similarly, a master’s marriage to his own slave woman is not valid—meaning, in essence, that the marriage would not exist. [By “not valid,” it means that the marriage is futile because the legal consequences of marriage, such as dower and divorce, would not apply, as one can have relations with a slave woman without the need for marriage.]
The Sixth Cause (Bringing a Slave Girl into Marriage):
It is not permissible for a woman in a free woman’s marriage to marry her slave girl, nor is it permissible for her to marry both of them at the same time.
(Note): The term slave refers not to servants or starving children, but to those captured in war (Dar al-Harb) during jihad. Since such situations are now non-existent, their detailed rulings are not written here.
The Seventh Cause (Polytheism):
It is not permissible to marry polytheist women (idol-worshippers and fire-worshippers, etc.) [If they convert to Islam, marriage with them becomes permissible]. Similarly, it is prohibited to marry an apostate woman.
(Note): An apostate is someone who was initially a Muslim but then left the religion of Islam. (May Allah protect us).
Important Point: A Muslim woman cannot marry a man of any other religion except Islam. However, a Muslim man can marry a woman from the People of the Book, provided she does not engage in idol-worship [though it is better not to marry them, if possible].(Note) The People of the Book are those who believe in a revealed scripture [such as the Psalms, Torah, Gospel, etc.] and follow the Shariah of a prophet sent to them [even if their beliefs have deviated into polytheism and their scriptures and Shariah have been abrogated, such as the Jews and Christians].
Important Point: There are many sects within Islam, and while they may differ on several matters, there is no disagreement on the foundational principles of the religion [i.e., belief in Allah and belief in His Messenger]. Therefore, if marriage takes place with someone from these sects, the marriage is permissible as long as the sect does not deny the essentials of the faith—i.e., things that are definitively established in Islamic law. If any sect denies these, its people should not be considered Muslim, even if they claim to be, and it is not permissible to marry them.
(Note): Although the various sects within Islam may not deviate to the extent of disbelief, marriages between them are, in principle, permissible. However, it is prohibited for Ahl al-Sunnah to marry off their daughters to those from other sects, as women are in a subordinate position and there is concern that they may adopt their husband's religion.
The Eighth Cause (Divorce Before 'Halala'):
A person who has divorced his wife three times (whether in one sitting or over time) causes her to become permanently divorced, and now it is prohibited for him to marry her again. However, if this woman marries another person after the iddah (waiting period) and consummates the marriage, and then her second husband divorces her [or dies, or she requests a divorce (khula)], after her iddah is over, she becomes lawful for her first husband again. (This is called Halala in Islamic jurisprudence.) He may now marry her again.
The Ninth Cause (Marrying a Woman During Another Marriage or 'Iddah'):
It is prohibited to marry a woman who is already married or is in a period of 'iddah [whether due to divorce or the death of her husband].
(Note): A woman who is pregnant as part of an 'iddah due to marriage is also prohibited from marrying until she delivers the child.
Important Point: It is permissible to marry a woman who is pregnant from adultery, but relations are not permitted before her delivery. However, if the adulterer marries her, relations with her would be allowed.
(Note): The list of prohibited women for marriage has concluded. In total, it includes all the women mentioned above, from whom marriage is prohibited. However, for convenience, a diagram is provided here that separates all the women from whom Muslim men are prohibited from marrying.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Mothers | Real mother, Step-mother, Foster mother, Wife of the foster father |
| Grandmothers | Real maternal grandmother (up to the end of the lineage), Step-maternal grandmother (up to the end of the lineage), Foster maternal grandmother (up to the end of the lineage), Wife of the foster maternal grandfather (up to the end of the lineage), Real paternal grandmother (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Daughters | Real daughter, Stepdaughter (daughter of a consummated wife), Real granddaughter (up to the end of the lineage), Foster granddaughter (up to the end of the lineage), Consummated wife's granddaughter (real or foster, up to the end of the lineage) |
| Sisters | Real sister, Step-sister (from the father), Half-sister (from the mother), Foster sister |
| Paternal Aunts | Real paternal aunt, Step-paternal aunt (up to the end of the lineage), Foster paternal aunt (up to the end of the lineage), Paternal aunt of a foster mother, Paternal aunt of a foster father |
| Nieces | Real nieces (daughters of brothers or sisters, up to the end of the lineage), Foster nieces (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Maternal Aunts | Real, Step-, or Foster maternal aunt (up to the end of the lineage), Grandmaternal and Foster grandmaternal aunts (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Mothers-in-law | Real, Foster mothers-in-law (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Daughters-in-law | Real, Foster daughters-in-law (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Prohibited During Marriage | Wife's sister, Wife's paternal aunt, Wife's maternal aunt |
| Over Limit of Wives | Having a fifth wife while four are already married |
| Concubines | Slave women exclusively belonging to another |
| Polytheists | Non-believers, such as Magians |
| Apostates | Women who have renounced Islam |
| Triple Divorce Before Halala | A woman divorced thrice by the same man without Halala |
| Pregnant from Another Man | A woman carrying another man's child |
| Adultery Relations | Mother of a woman one had an illicit relationship with, Grandmother (maternal or paternal) of such a woman, Daughter or granddaughter of such a woman |
| Step-relatives | Stepdaughter (if the marriage with her mother is consummated), Stepmother (father's wife), Step-granddaughters (maternal or paternal, up to the end of the lineage) |
| Foster Relations | Foster mothers, Foster sisters, Foster daughters, Foster granddaughters (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Wives of Relatives | Wife of real son (daughter-in-law), Wife of foster son, Wife of father (stepmother), Wife of foster father |
| Category | Details |
| Mothers | Real mother, Step-mother, Foster mother, Wife of the foster father |
| Grandmothers | Real maternal grandmother (up to the end of the lineage), Step-maternal grandmother (up to the end of the lineage), Foster maternal grandmother (up to the end of the lineage), Wife of the foster maternal grandfather (up to the end of the lineage), Real paternal grandmother (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Daughters | Real daughter, Stepdaughter (daughter of a consummated wife), Real granddaughter (up to the end of the lineage), Foster granddaughter (up to the end of the lineage), Consummated wife's granddaughter (real or foster, up to the end of the lineage) |
| Sisters | Real sister, Step-sister (from the father), Half-sister (from the mother), Foster sister |
| Paternal Aunts | Real paternal aunt, Step-paternal aunt (up to the end of the lineage), Foster paternal aunt (up to the end of the lineage), Paternal aunt of a foster mother, Paternal aunt of a foster father |
| Nieces | Real nieces (daughters of brothers or sisters, up to the end of the lineage), Foster nieces (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Maternal Aunts | Real, Step-, or Foster maternal aunt (up to the end of the lineage), Grandmaternal and Foster grandmaternal aunts (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Mothers-in-law | Real, Foster mothers-in-law (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Daughters-in-law | Real, Foster daughters-in-law (up to the end of the lineage) |
| Prohibited During Marriage | Wife's sister, Wife's paternal aunt, Wife's maternal aunt |
| Over Limit of Wives | Having a fifth wife while four are already married |
| Concubines | Slave women exclusively belonging to another |
| Polytheists | Non-believers, such as Magians |
| Apostates | Women who have renounced Islam |
| Triple Divorce Before Halala | A woman divorced thrice by the same man without Halala |
| Pregnant from Another Man | A woman carrying another man's child |
| Adultery Relations | Mother of a woman one had an illicit relationship with, Grandmother (maternal or paternal) of such a woman, Daughter or granddaughter of such a woman |
Note: The mention of zina (adultery) here is solely to clarify the effect of zina in the matter of marriage, as zina is a major sin and an act of immorality. The Quran has explicitly forbidden it with a strong command to prevent Muslims from committing it:
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنٰى إِنَّهٗ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَّ سَآءَ سَبِيلاً
"And do not approach zina; indeed, it is an immorality and an evil way." (Surah Al-Isra, 17:32)
Terms on this page
Related
- Who you cannot marry: blood relations and in-laws The blood relations and in-laws a Muslim can never marry, and how an in-law relationship comes to be prohibited.
- The waiting period (iddah) after divorce or death Why a wife must wait before remarrying, and how long the wait is for a divorced, widowed, pregnant, or never-consummated wife.
- Spouses' rights, and marriages that do not hold What a marriage contract owes each spouse, and the situations elsewhere in this section where a marriage (nikah) is invalid or left pending.
- Custody of children and maintenance after divorce Who has the right to care for young children after a divorce, and when a husband must keep providing his wife's food, clothing, and housing.