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:

Assalamu Allaikkum,

2. i have a brother in law who is younger than me,can i speak to him as my own brother,is there any restrictions to speak with him.

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Answer:

Talking to brother in law

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 24 Surah Noor verses 30-31:

30 Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them: and Allah is well acquainted with all that they do

31 And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof; that they should draw their veils over their bosoms and not display their beauty except to their husbands their fathers their husbands' fathers their sons their husbands' sons their brothers or their brothers' sons or their sisters' sons or their women or the slaves whom their right hands possess or male servants free of physical needs or small children who have no sense of the shame of sex; and that they should not strike their feet in order to draw attention to their hidden ornaments. And O ye Believers! Turn ye all together towards Allah that ye may attain Bliss.

Islam does not at all prohibit a believing woman from mixing freely with her mehram relatives; thus she is at absolute liberty to associate herself with her husband, her children, her father, her uncles, her brothers, her husband’s father, etc.

The husband’s brother (younger or older) or brother-in-laws are not considered ‘mehrams’ in Shariah, and every restriction that applies to a non-mehram would be applicable to one’s brother-in-law.

Islam does not prohibit a believing woman from speaking to a non-mehram if she has a genuine need or business; but what Islam does strictly prohibit is that a believing woman indulge in casual and vain talk with a non-mehram member of the opposite sex.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.159 Narrated by Uqba bin Amir

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Beware of entering upon the (non-mehram) ladies." A man from the Ansar said, "O Allah's Messenger (saws)! What about ‘Al-Hamu’ (the non-mehram male in-laws of the wife like the brothers of her husband, or his nephews etc.)?" The Prophet (saws) replied: ‘The ‘Hamu’ of the wife are death itself!!’

The relation of ‘Al-Hamu’ (non-mehram male in-laws of the wife) are such that in-spite of being non-mehrams, they are such regular visitors to the house and are treated as such close relatives, that at times it is possible that the sanctity of the ‘hijaab’ with them is compromised.

Because of their proximity of relations, it is possible that the wife lets her guard down towards her ‘Hamu’ relatives, and one amongst them who possesses an evil heart is drawn towards her or his behavior gives rise to suspicion or accusation of developing an illicit relationship with the wife. The effect of such situations, suspicions, or accusations are so devastating that not only would it jeopardize the sacred relationship between a husband and a wife, but Allah forbid, it might even result in a brother becoming an enemy of his own brother!

That is precisely why the Messenger of Allah (saws) guided the believing woman to be extra careful in her dealings with her ‘Hamu’ relatives calling this relation death and destruction itself; never ever let her guard down with them, treat and behave with them exactly as she would with a non-mehram, never ever sit with them alone, or engage privately in vain or casual talk with them….but at all times, honor and scrupulously preserve the sanctity of the ‘hijaab’ with them.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

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