Stepsons Seeing Their Stepmother

QUESTION:

A man has two sons with his first wife who subsequently passed away. He remarried but divorced his second wife, without having any children with her. Is it permissible for his sons to see his second wife after the divorce?

ANSWER:

In principle, the stepson is a Mahram (one with whom marriage is prohibited) to his stepmother. Therefore, it will be permissible for the stepsons to see the stepmother and she will not be obligated to observe Purdah from her stepsons.

However, if there is fear of any Fitnah, especially in today’s times, they should exercise precaution by not being in isolation or casual conversations.

وتحرم موطوءات آبائه وأجداده، وإن علوا ولو بزنى والمعقودات لهم عليهن بعقد صحيح

)رد المحتار – ج٣ – ٢٨ (

أما منكوحة الأب: فتحرم بالنص وهو قوله: {ولا تنكحوا ما نكح آباؤكم من النساء} [النساء[: والنكاح يذكر ويراد به العقد وسواء كان الأب دخل بها أو لا؛ لأن اسم النكاح يقع على العقد والوطء

(و الرابعة) نساء الاباء والاجداد من جهت الاب او الام و ان علو فهؤلاء محرمات علي التابيد نكاحا و وطأ كذا في الحاوي القدسي

)الفتاوى العالمكيرية – ج١ – ص٢٧٤(

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Abdul Kader Fazlani

Date: 12 Shawwaal 1447 / 01 April 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb