YOUR BROTHER-INLAW

Husband’s elder and younger brothers are like death – keep aloof from them

By

Maulana Mufti Ahmed bemat

(Shaikh Ul-Hadith)

HADITH: it is reported from Uqbah Ibn Aamir (radiyallahu anhu) that Rasulullah صلى الله عليه والسلم said: “Save yourself from familiarizing with woman”. A Companion asked, “O Rasul of Allah صلى الله عليه والسلم! What do you say regarding the older and younger brothers-in-law?” He said: “They are death” (Bukhari and Muslim). Just ponder over it. The Rasul of Allah صلى الله عليه والسلم is asking women not to come in contact with male strangers (ghayr-mahram, who are not within the prohibited degrees and hence marriage with them is permissible). Similarly, he ordered the male strangers not to go near women nor sit and associate with them as otherwise they would be involved into mischief. The Companion asked, “What is the order regarding those male relatives and older and younger brothers of the husband who happen to live under the same roof? They have of necessity to come in the house” The Rasul of Allah صلى الله عليه والسلم said: “As for them, they are death”

In explanation of this hadith the scholars say that no one can save oneself from death. Similarly, it is very difficult to avoid and be aloof from brother-in-law. The reason is obvious. Since they happen to live under the same roof, one can get many opportunities to meet and sit with them in privacy; and because of their kinship the people as well as the husband usually do not entertain any suspicion. However, through frequent meeting and association, a very precarious situation arises. Hence it is very necessary for the woman to keep herself aloof from her brothers-in-law (both the husband’s brothers and sister’ husbands) . in our Muslim society this kinship with the two kinds of brother-in-law is a subject of joking and jesting from which it is very necessary for the women to abstain shrewdly, as otherwise the arising of an undesirable situation would become the cause of the ruin of the family. Hence one should avoid meeting a ghayr-mahram woman in privacy and should cultivate the fear of Allah. If one must approach such a woman, one should talk to her from the other side of the curtain and immediately move out when the talk is over. To sit down often for talking and to indulge in joking is the cause of the ruin of one’s faith and religion. The Qur’aan has given a warning to both men and women in this regard, even when it is necessary to talk from behind the curtain.