Islamic marriage advice and family advice

Can I marry my sister in law?

I am Sardar Khan, married to my wife of 7 years with 3 children. My wife had an accident and she broke her spine and is bedridden. It has been very difficult for me to look after her and children because I need to go to work to support my family.

She does not have her parents, and my parents are old and they also cannot take care of my wife. My parents and brother in law told about me about a second marriage and they approached and many rejected the idea due to my having 3 children and my wife's condition.  My sister in law is a widow with 3 childrens.

My parents and my brother in law has thoughts of marrying her to me because she will be able to take care of the kids and my wife (her sister). As it not permissible to marry sister in law, I told them that this will not happen.

I just wanted to know whether the decision taken by my parents and brother in law in right or wrong.


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11 Responses »

  1. Salaams,

    I can't say if I am sure if your sister in law is marriagable for you. It may make a difference whether she is your sister in law because of your brother (deceased) having married her or because your wife's brother passed and she is now a widow. I can say with certainty, though, that if she is the full sister of your wife you CANNOT marry her: Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: two sisters in wedlock at the same time, except for what has already passed. [al-Nisaa 4:23]

    I think there's a bigger issue here, though. You should never take a second wife to care for your first wife and your kids with her. I understand that it's a very tragic situation you're in, with your wife being bedridden and no one else to care for your children. However, if you take a second wife to care for your first wife and your children, you are disrespecting the second wife's right to be treated as an equal to your first wife, not as a servant.

    That being said, your if your first wife has any siblings, or you do, they should be willing to help with the care of your family as needed. I understand everyone has their own responsibilities, but when tragedies like this happen families need to support one another and do what is necessary to make sure all needs are met. Your sister in law may even be willing to care for the family as she is able as an act of charity without needing to marry you. See if she, or someone else, is willing to do this and not only will it benefit you it will give them the chance to earn rewards for their sadaqah. If you cannot find anyone with a charitable mindset, see if you can hire a housekeeper and/or nanny for a small wage or even in exchange for room and board or some other barter agreement.

    If you want to take a second wife for reasons other than what your wife and children need (such as you have a true attraction to someone), make sure you can manage the expense of caring for two wives as you should under Islam. I imagine that the cost of your wife's health right now is not making that as viable an option as it might be otherwise. I think there are some better options for you to explore first, however, before you look in the direction of marrying again.

    -Amy
    IslamicAnswers.com Editor

  2. no you can't marry her !
    can't you marry another divorced women besides her I'm sure their divorced women who are wiling!

  3. nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo haram!

  4. AA;

    - You can not marry two sisters at same time.
    - You can marry the second one if the first one dies.
    - I do no think you can marry the second one if you divorce the first one.

    May ALLAH guide us, grant us patience, and shower us with his mercy.

    If I am correct, it is from ALLAH. If I err it is from me, and I pray ALLAH forgives me. Allah knows best.

    AA.

  5. U can Divorce ur first wife and then marry ur sister in law & ask her to take care of her sister & her childrens.

    • Do you have any Quran or Hadith reference

      • Salam Aaa,

        The Quran allows us to get a divorce so he would divorce his wife. He would have to place a condition with the new wife that she would accept his now non-mahram wife into the house and help take care of her. It's not the best thing for his wife but if he plans on divorcing her anyway this would be better than getting a new wife that does not care for his previous wife at all.

        • M; your not cutting the cake(no Quran verse cited), You sound like your basing it on desires? IF THE QURAN DON'T SAY IT DON'T LIE!!!!

  6. i have wife but i loved wife sister can i marry

    • mian, your question is not clear. If you mean that you want to take your wife's sister as a second wife, then answer is no, that is haram. I advise you to stay away from your wife's sister as much as possible, and to respect your own wife and your marriage, before you fall into sin and cause a disaster in your family.

      Wael
      IslamicAnswers.com Editor

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