for marriage to these women is lawful after one’s wives have died or been divorced; since they are related to one’s wives within the prohibited degrees, only being married to them concurrently is forbidden.

His words, “And your stepdaughters under your care, born of your wives with whom you have consummated marriage” [al-Nisā’: 23], include their daughters’ daughters and sons’ daughters, however far down the line of descent. A stepdaughter, her female descendants, and her sons’ female descendants do not become forbidden in marriage unless one has consummated marriage with her mother or derived sexual pleasure from any part of her, because of the condition attached to this prohibition. The mother, however, becomes forbidden upon contracting marriage with her daughter, because the prohibition concerning her is unqualified, with no condition attached.

His words, “And the wives of your sons who are of your own loins” [al-Nisā’: 23], include sons’ sons and daughters’ sons, however far down the line of descent, whether related by blood or breastfeeding. Allah Most High qualified the prohibition of sons’ wives with His words, “Of your own loins” [al-Nisā’: 23], to make marriage to the wives of adopted sons lawful, not to make marriage to the wives of sons through breastfeeding lawful. For breastfeeding establishes the same marriage prohibitions as blood kinship, according to the explicit texts of the Quran and Sunnah.

For this reason, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, married Zaynab bint Jahsh, who had been the wife of Zayd ibn Hārithah, whom the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had adopted. Allah, Mighty and Majestic is He, said:

“Then, when Zayd had ended his marriage to her, We gave her to you in marriage, so that there would be no restriction upon the believers concerning the wives of their adopted sons when those sons have ended their marriages to them.” [al-Ahzāb: 37]

He also said:

“Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets.” [al-Ahzāb: 40]

And He said:

“Nor has He made your adopted sons your real sons. These are merely words you utter with your mouths. Allah speaks the truth, and He guides to the right way.” [al-Ahzāb: 4]

“Call them by their fathers’ names; that is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers, they are your brothers in faith and your allies.” [al-Ahzāb: 5]

This was because, when the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, married her, the Jews and hypocrites said, “He has married his son’s wife, although he used to forbid that.” Allah, Mighty and Majestic is He, therefore revealed what He revealed concerning this, declaring their claim false, refuting their words, and establishing the lawfulness of what the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, had done.

His words, “And that you marry two sisters at the same time, except for what has already occurred” [al-Nisā’: 23], include marrying concurrently any two women related to one another within the prohibited degrees. This includes marrying a woman and her paternal aunt, or a woman and her maternal aunt, at the same time. The Prophet’s prohibition, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, against marrying such women concurrently explains what the Quran contains on this matter, for it is not