Can I Marry to My Mother’s Brother’s Widow?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

Can I marry to my mother’s brother’s widow?

I don’t have any blood relation with her.

Answer: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah,

Yes, it would be permitted to marry your mother’s brother’s widow.

This is on condition that you are not already married to a blood relative, such as a niece, of the lady in question. If that is the case, it would be impermissible because the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) interdicted marrying a lady and her aunt. [Tirmidhi; Abu Dawud]

Similary, you cannot marry this lady during her waiting period (`idda). You can see the attached answers below regarding this. And further, please try to get some elders involved so that you don’t make any decisions which cause issues in your family.

[Maydani, al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab (412)]

Please also see: Who is Mahram? and: Did the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) Discourage Marrying Cousins? and: Basic Rulings and Length of the Waiting Period (`idda)

And Allah Most High alone knows best.

wassalam,

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.