How Do I Deal With My Sister-In-Law As We Live In the Same House?
Question: How do Interact with my sister in law? I live in the same house as my parents, and sometimes I am required to pick up my sister-in-law, who is a doctor, from her workplace when it gets late, as my brother lives in another country for his work. How do I manage this?
Answer:
Assalamu alaykum,
Thank you for your question. It is true that you are in a tough spot. The best thing for you is to help your sister-in-law when it is necessary, as in the case that you mentioned, but maintain Islamic gender interaction all the time.
Gender Interaction
You will find the rules in the links below, do your best to follow them, and ask Allah to help you. The most important aspects are lowering your gaze, never being alone with her, never touching her, and never approaching her private quarters. The conversation should always be respectful but limited and cordial, even sitting together alone in the family room should only be limited to a few minutes.
Please see:
May Allah reward you for your sincerity and help you achieve this delicate balance.
[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria for two years where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafseer, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin, where she completed her Masters in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She recently moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.
