Mahram is an Arabic word derived from ‘haraam’, which means ‘forbidden’. The word mahram refers to all those people with whom one can’t marry or have any intimate relationship due to their closeness. This places a respective boundary in different relationships and promotes modesty in the Muslim community. The distinction of mahram also tells an individual the limits of their boundaries with certain people and how much one has to cover in front of a certain person.
Note: Mahrams are of the opposite gender. For example, a woman’s mahram is certain men, and vice versa.
Mahrams Of A Woman
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and be modest, and to display of their adornment only that which is apparent, and to draw their veils over their bosoms, and not to reveal their adornment save to their own husbands or fathers or husbands’ fathers, or their sons or their husbands’ sons, or their brothers or their brothers’ sons or sisters’ sons, or their women, or their slaves, or male attendants who lack vigour, or children who know naught of women’s nakedness.”
The well-known Hanafi Fiqh text al-Hidaya explains that a Mahram for a woman is defined as an individual with whom she has a permanent prohibition on marriage. This prohibition can arise if the relationship is established through these three processes: it may be due to blood relations (nasab), a foster relationship (radha’a), or ties established through marriage (musaharah). [(al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Karahiyya, 4/461-462)]
Mahrams By Blood
- Her ancestors, regardless of how far back the lineage extends, including both her father’s and mother’s forefathers.
- Her sons and grandchildren, who come from both male and female lines, such as her sons’ sons and daughters’ sons, are also included.
- Her brothers, whether they are full brothers (sharing both parents) or half-brothers (sharing either the father or the mother).
- Her siblings’ children include descendants from both male and female lines, such as her sister’s daughters’ sons.
- Paternal and maternal uncles, considered Mahram by blood, hold a status similar to that of parents and may be referred to as such.
Mahrams By Radha’a
Radha’a is the Arabic term for breastfeeding. When a woman breastfeeds a child, she becomes the child’s foster mother, and the child is regarded as her foster offspring. This creates a “milk kinship” that makes it unlawful for the child and the woman to marry each other.
“Breastfeeding establishes the same marital prohibitions as blood ties.”
However, the prohibition of marriage is not limited to the child. A woman’s Mahram relations established through foster relationships are the same as those formed through blood ties. Based on the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, Islamic scholars affirm that a woman may reveal her adornments to her Mahram through rada’ah in the same way she can to her blood relatives. Therefore, marriage is also forbidden to those who are not married.
Mahrams By Marriage
As mentioned in the Quran, certain men become mahram to a woman after she is married: her husband, her husband’s father, her grandfather, her great-grandfather, and, as long as the lineage goes, the sons of her husband from another wife.
Note: Whether the husband’s grandfather is from his father’s or his mother’s, they are both mahram to the woman.
List Of Mahrams Of A Woman
Therefore, to sum up, we can say that the following men are the mahram of a woman:
- Fathers
- Brothers, it doesn’t matter if they are your half-brothers. If you share a parent, they are your mahram.
- Sons
- Husband
- Husband’s Grandfather (The husband’s grandfather, regardless of whether he is the father of the husband’s dad or the father of his mom)
- Paternal Grandfather
- Maternal Grandfather
- Father-in-laws
- Maternal uncles (as in the brothers of your mother, not the husband of your aunt)
- Paternal uncles (same as above)
- Young boys who have not reached puberty.
- Stepsons
- Maternal nieces and nephews
- Paternal nieces and nephews
- Maternal and paternal forefathers, no matter how long the line of ancestors is, are all mahrams.
- Grandsons
- Stepson’s sons.
- Great grandsons
- Maternal grandnieces.
- Boys who you have suckled as a child.
Mahrams Of A Man
The same rules apply to defining the mahrams of a man as they are applicable to defining the mahrams of a woman.
Mahrams By Blood
- His ancestors, regardless of how far back the lineage extends, including both her father’s and mother’s foremothers.
- His daughters and grandchildren, who come from both male and female lines, such as his sons’ sons and daughters’ sons, are also included.
- His sisters, whether they are full sisters (sharing both parents) or half-sisters (sharing either the father or the mother).
- His siblings’ children include descendants from both male and female lines, such as his sister’s son’s daughters.
- Paternal and maternal aunts, considered Mahram by blood, hold a status similar to that of parents and may be referred to as such.
Mahrams By Radha’a
If a woman suckles a man, he becomes mahram to that woman and her daughters, and therefore, marriage is forbidden with the mother and the sisters.
Mahrams By Marriage
When a man marries a woman, he becomes a mahram to her and his wife’s mother. Also, the wife’s grandmother becomes a mahram to the husband, whether from her father’s or mother’s side.
When a man marries a woman and consummates their marriage, her daughter, his stepdaughter, becomes a mahram to him. This also applies to her grandchildren—both the daughters of her daughter and the daughters of her son—regardless of how many generations there are.
The daughter of his stepson and the daughter of his stepdaughter are forbidden from marriage to him, regardless of whether his wife is a relative (such as a cousin) or not, as they fall under the category of stepchildren. [Kashshaaf al-Qinaa‘ (5/72)]
List Of Mahrams Of A Man
Therefore, to sum up, we can say that the following women are the mahram of a man:
- Mothers
- Sisters, it doesn’t matter if they are your half-sisters. If you share a parent, they are your mahram.
- Daughters
- Wife
- Wife’s Grandmother
- Paternal Grandmother
- Maternal Grandmother
- Mother-in-laws
- Maternal aunts (as in the sisters of your mother, not the wife of your uncle)
- Paternal aunts (same as above)
- Young girls who have not reached puberty.
- Step-daughters
- Maternal nieces and nephews
- Paternal nieces and nephews
- Maternal and paternal foremothers, no matter how long the line of ancestors is, are all mahrams.
- Granddaughters
- Stepdaughter’s daughters.
- Great granddaughters
- Maternal grandnieces.
- Women who have suckled you as a child and her daughters