Salaams, What is the Islamic ruling with regards to 2 sisters being married to the same man at the same time??Are we even allowed to socialise with them?what do we do if they refuse to change?

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Molana, I am closely related to 2 sisters who are openly living with the same man & both claim that they are not living a haraam life because they claim they both made nikah with him.They both have children from him as well. Now,how are we as family supposed to treat them?? Are we even allowed to visit them?? They say it is a big sin to break family ties but how else are we supposed to treat them? To be honest, i am ashamed to tell people that i know them let alone, related to them. HELP?? Jazakallah

Mufti Ebrahim Desai · Accepted Answer

According to the Shari'ah, it is Haraam (expressly prohibited) to have two sisters in one marriage. Allah Ta'ala says, 'If it is made Haraam upon you that you join two sisters (in one marriage).' (An-Nisaa)

The Fuqahaa (jurists) have ruled that if a person married two sisters simultaneously, both the marriages are invalid. If he married one after another, then the marriage to the second sister will be invalid. To live with a woman in an invalid marriage is Zinaa (adultery) and a major sin - refer below.

As a relative and being close to the sisters, we advise you adopt every possible avenue to explain that their act is against the Shari'ah and invokes the curse of Allah Ta'ala. If applying any pressure on them, for example, severing ties with them, etc. may help them in breaking up the Haraam relationship, then that should be adopted.

and Allah Ta'ala Knows Best

Mufti Ebrahim Desai
FATWA DEPT.

The sin of fornication (Zina) is extremely severe, both in this world and in the hereafter. Allah Ta'ala says in the noble Qur'aan, 'And do not go near to Zina.'

In a lengthy Hadith of Sahih Bukhari, a dream of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is mentioned in which he saw the punishments of different sins. Among those punishments, one was the punishment of Zinaa. He saw people in a clay oven with its mouth very narrow and the bottom very vast. Beneath it burnt a fire. When this fire was kindled, these people went up with that fire and when the fire subsided, these people also then went down. In this oven were naked men and women who used to commit adultery in the worldly life. The punishment will continue till the day of judgment.

The punishment of Zinaa in this world is Rajm (if married) or 100 lashes if unmarried. It should be borne in mind that such punishment will apply if such a sin is committed only in Darul Islam (where full Islamic rule is enforced). If such conditions are found that the adulterer is married (Muhsan) and he committed such a sin in Darul Islam, he will be given the punishment of Rajam (stone to death). If he is not Muhsan, then the punishment will be 100 lashes (both male and female).

Similarly, any act which will lead to Zinaa is also Haraam, for example, a) Unlawful contact with a strange women, b) Illegal glances to strange women, c) Filthy literature, etc. For this, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) mentioned, 'The eyes also commits Zinaa (adultery) the Zinaa of the eyes is illegal glances.' (Nasbur Raaya)

Besides the above punishments, the repercussions of Zinaa will be, a) A person will suffer poverty, we have noted many affluent people who became paupers due to committing Zina, b) Many families are broken, c) Illegitimate children, d) Abortion, etc. etc. etc.

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