26/45. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 3285 — Sister and Stepdaughter Marriage Rules
The Prohibition of Being Married To Both A Mother And Daughter
Forbidden Marriage Relations in Islam Explained
Sunan an-Nasai : 3285
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 3285
أَخْبَرَنَا وَهْبُ بْنُ بَيَانٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَنَّ عُرْوَةَ بْنَ الزُّبَيْرِ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ زَيْنَبَ بِنْتِ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، أَنَّ أُمَّ حَبِيبَةَ، زَوْجَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَتْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَنْكِحْ بِنْتَ أَبِي تَعْنِي أُخْتَهَا . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَتُحِبِّينَ ذَلِكِ " . قَالَتْ نَعَمْ لَسْتُ لَكَ بِمُخْلِيَةٍ وَأَحَبُّ مَنْ شَرِكَتْنِي فِي خَيْرٍ أُخْتِي . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِنَّ ذَلِكَ لاَ يَحِلُّ " . قَالَتْ أُمُّ حَبِيبَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ تَحَدَّثْنَا أَنَّكَ تَنْكِحُ دُرَّةَ بِنْتَ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ . فَقَالَ " بِنْتُ أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ " . قَالَتْ أُمُّ حَبِيبَةَ نَعَمْ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " فَوَاللَّهِ لَوْ أَنَّهَا لَمْ تَكُنْ رَبِيبَتِي فِي حَجْرِي مَا حَلَّتْ إِنَّهَا لاَبْنَةُ أَخِي مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ أَرْضَعَتْنِي وَأَبَا سَلَمَةَ ثُوَيْبَةُ فَلاَ تَعْرِضْنَ عَلَىَّ بَنَاتِكُنَّ وَلاَ أَخَوَاتِكُنَّ " .
Umm Habibah Narrated from:
It was narrated from Zainab bint Abi Salamah that Umm Habibah, the wife of the Prophet said: "O Messenger of Allah, marry the daughter of my father" - meaning her sister. The Messenger of Allah said: "Would you like that?" She said: "Yes; I do not have you all to myself, and I would like to share this goodness with my sister." The Prophet said: "That is not permissible for me."Umm Habibah said: "O Messenger of Allah, by Allah, we have been saying that you want to marry Durrah bint Abi Salamah." He said: "The daughter of Umm Salamah?" I said: "Yes." He said: "By Allah, even if she were not my stepdaughter who is in my care, she would not be permissible for me (to marry), because she is the daughter of my brother through breast-feeding. Thuwaibah breastfed Abu Salamah and I. So do not offer your daughters or sisters to me in marriage."
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 3285In-book reference : Book 26, Hadith 90English translation : Vol. 4, Book 26, Hadith 3287
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 3285
This narration gives an easy-to-follow example of forbidden marriage relations in Islam. Umm Habibah asked the Prophet to marry the daughter of her father, meaning her sister. She said she wished to share goodness with her sister. The Prophet answered that this was not permissible for him. Then she mentioned Durrah bint Abi Salamah, and the Prophet explained another reason for impermissibility: even if Durrah had not been his stepdaughter in his care, she would still not be lawful because she was the daughter of his brother through breast-feeding. This hadith about breastfeeding and marriage shows that Islam treats certain nursing relationships as real barriers to marriage.
What we learn from this hadith
- A wife’s sister was not permissible for the Prophet to marry in this situation.
- A stepdaughter in one’s care is mentioned as a marriage barrier in the text.
- Breast-feeding can create a family-like relation affecting marriage.
- Questions about marriage should be answered with clarity and care.
