Fatwa ID: 04146

Answered by: Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh

Question

Does a woman have to wear Hijab in front of the husband of her auntie (her father's sister)?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

A woman has to observe Hijāb (Purdah) in front of all non-Mahrām males. A Mahram is with whom marriage is never permitted to marry because of their due to kinship, foster relationship, or relationship by marriage.[1]

The husband of a woman's aunt is not her Mahram, i.e. he is not one of those with who marriage is permanently unlawful. Therefore, she is required to wear Hijāb in front of her aunt’s husband.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Imam Abdul-Malik Sheikh

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham