Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Br. Burhan, Assalaam alaikum,

I am a muslim and a regular reader of Islamhelpline and is very impressed by the reasonable analitical answers in the light of Islam provided to the persons posing serveral question on different topics from society.

Since during the last few month I am also under a tense suituation and feeling miserable in deciding my way to start a new married life in the Islamic prospective.

I was in a relationship with a girl in Australia for the last one month and later I understood that her younger sister who has more islamic values then she is and her domestic thoughts and simplicity has persuaded me to opt for her as my would be life parnter rather then this girl who is more sort of social and is aspiring to persue her academic studies. Therefore, I spoke with her about my intention to marry her sister since I feel its not just an attraction of beauty but of understanding and long time mutual coexistence. After several discussion on the ground realities we both agreed to the practicle fact.

Now, my question is whether is it allowed in Islam to marry a girl where I have been in a relationship with her older sister and it is well known to her family about our relationship but still they accept my intention to marry another on the basis of my very necessity of a good house wife.

So, is in islam this relation is allowed to exist or am I doing something out of context.

I would be grateful for your clarification at your earliest convenience.

with kindest regards,

Wasalaam,

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Marry fiance sister

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

May Allah Subhanah reward you with the best of this world and the Hereafter for your kind comments of encouragement for our humble efforts in the propagation of the Truth. If our humble and modest efforts have helped even one brother or sister get closer to Allah and His Deen of Truth, then we would consider ourselves indeed fortunate to have been given this opportunity by the Lord Most Merciful to serve in His Cause. We hope, beg, and pray the Merciful Lord accepts our humble and weak efforts, forgives us our shortcomings, and saves you, us, and all the believers from the torment of the Hell Fire. Ameen.

Your Question: Now, my question is whether is it allowed in Islam to marry a girl where I have been in a relationship with her older sister and it is well known to her family about our relationship but still they accept my intention to marry another on the basis of my very necessity of a good house wife.

As long as you have not officially married the elder sister, there is absolutely no restriction, no harm and no sin in Islam if one decides to drop the idea of marrying the elder sister for whatever reason, and chooses to marry her younger sister.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan