Is the Wife of My Paternal Uncle a Mahram for Me?

Question:

Is the wife of my paternal uncle, i.e. my aunt, a mahram for me?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate,

No, the wife of your father’s brother is not your mahram. [Quduri, al-Mukhtasar]

Which Aunts Are Mahram?

The siblings of your parents, whether they are full or half-siblings, are mahram for you. Aunts and uncles, by law or by marriage, are not relatives at all and are not considered Mahram. [Ibid.]

Principles and Good Character

Unfortunately, it is common for people to be less cautious with regards to members of the family, even if they are not mahram. Aunts and uncles, by marriage, cousins, and in-laws such as a sibling’ spouse are close members of the family, however, they are not mahram.

Due to their close relationship, one should be tactful and respectful to them. However, one should stick to their religious principles with regards to touching or seclusion.

I hope this helps,
Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he then completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and a number of texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.