Question # 394: Assalamualaikum. My mother and me both are planning to go for hajj together. But only my husband is there as mahram.. Can he escort both of us as mahram? Please explain according to the rules of Islam..

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: The son-in-law is considered a mahram (unmarriageable relative) permanently for his mother-in-law. So, your husband is allowed to accompany you and your mother as mahram for Hajj.

Long Answer: Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “Forbidden to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your father’s sisters, your mother’s sisters, your brother’s daughters, your sister’s daughters, your foster mothers who gave you suck, your foster milk suckling sisters, your wives’ mothers, your stepdaughters under your guardianship, born of your wives to whom you have gone in — but there is no sin on you if you have not gone in them (to marry their daughters), — the wives of your sons who (spring) from your own loins, and two sisters in wedlock at the same time, except for what has already passed; verily, Allah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Soorah an-Nisa’a, 4:23)

The above ayah illustrates the categories of women that are prohibited for a man to marry because of relations established by blood, nursing, or marriage. According to the ayah, some women are permanently prohibited for marriage while others are temporarily so. [Among the category of women who are permanently forbidden for marriage is] wife’s mother, [which] includes her grandmothers, no matter how far the line of ascent reaches, because Allah says “your wives’ mothers”. If a man makes a marriage contract with a woman, her mother and grandmother become forbidden for marriage for him, merely by virtue of the marriage contract, whether he consummates the marriage with her or not, and whether they are grandmothers on her father’s side or her mother’s. (Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid)

Hence, as soon as the marriage between a man and a woman is performed, an absolutely sacred and a mahram relationship is established between the son-in-law and the wife’s mother for life. Even if the marriage between the man and the woman ends in a divorce before consummation of the marriage, or even if the husband were to divorce the wife, or the wife were to die, etc.; the relation between the man and his wife’s (or ex-wife’s) mother will always remain sacred and mahram. (Islamhelpline.net)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam