Question:-
If a man with sons from a previous marriage marries a woman with daughters from a previous marriage, then will these children be regarded as Mahaarim to each other (whereby the laws of Purdah are not applicable?)
If they are required to observe Purdah, then what are their options, since they jointly reside in the same home?
Are the husband’s sons permitted to marry the wife’s daughters?
Answer:-
If a man (with sons from a previous marriage) marries a woman who had daughters (from a previous marriage), then these children will not be Mahaarim to each other. It will be necessary for them to observe Purdah from each other on reaching puberty.
1.1. If there is an outbuilding, or a separate room on the same property where one resides, then the husband’s male offspring may reside in the outbuilding and wife’s female offspring in the same home as their parents. There is more security for the females to be in the home with their parents. This is one way of avoiding intermingling. The boys could also partake of their meals in their quarters.
If this option does not exist, the boy’s room should have an external entrance that leads into their room. This means that there is no need for them to enter the home from the main entrance; rather they can enter their room from a separate entrance which is quite common nowadays. Many homes have a glass sliding door leading into the room. They could either partake of their meals in a particular section of the room, or alternatively, there should be separate eating times for the males and females, or separate venues (such as the males partaking of meals in the dining room and the females in the kitchen, etc.) This is another way of minimizing interaction between them.
If this too is not an option, then the females should don their Purdah when leaving their rooms so that they do not appear before their Ghair Maharim step-brothers without Purdah in the home. Both parties should remain secluded as far as possible and only emerge due to necessity in the common areas. They should avoid all unnecessary interaction.
1.2. Yes, marriage with them is permitted.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 30 Rabi-ul-Aakhir 1434 / 05 December 2021
