issuing three divorces, for he is still permitted to remarry her during her waiting period.

Shaykh Taqi al-Din said: “Both explicit and indirect proposals are permissible from the man responsible for her ʿidda, provided that marriage to her during that period is lawful for him.”

It is forbidden to make a proposal after one’s Muslim brother has already proposed to a woman. If a man has proposed and his proposal has been accepted, it is unlawful for someone else to approach her with a proposal until the first suitor either gives permission or withdraws. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A man must not propose over his brother’s proposal until he marries her or leaves her,” narrated by al-Bukhari and al-Nasaʾi. Muslim reports: “It is not permissible for a believer to propose over his brother’s proposal until he abandons it.” In the hadith of Ibn ʿUmar: “None of you should propose over his brother’s proposal,” agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Al-Bukhari also relates: “A man must not propose over another man’s proposal until the previous suitor withdraws or grants him permission.”

These narrations and others of similar purport clearly prohibit proposing over a fellow Muslim’s proposal and infringing upon his rights. If, however, the first suitor is rejected, or he grants permission,