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Woman's Hijab in front of her stepmother's family

Question

I have questions regarding to my relationships with step mothers' family and theirs. 1) Can her dad and brothers see me without Hijaab and can I treat them like my grandfather/uncle? 2) Can my husband see my step-mom without any Hijaab as well? Please provide examples from Hadith/Quran if there are any.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

It is not permissible for a girl to take off her Hijab in the presence of her step-mother's father or brothers as they are not Mahaarim (non-marriageable relatives) to her; rather she is a marriageable woman to them. However, if there is a reason which makes her a Mahram, like by suckling relationship and the like, then they become Mahaarim to her and she is not be obliged to wear Hijab in front of them.

Likewise, it is not permissible for the wife's husband to look at her step-wife as he is not a Mahram to her, unless there is a reason which makes him a Mahram, like by suckling relationship and the like, in which case he is permitted to look at her and be in seclusion with her, and do other things that are permissible between a man and his female Maharam.

For more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 84143.

Allaah Knows best.

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