Nikah with One’s Paternal Uncle

Question

Is a marriage contract (‘aqd) between a niece (a brother’s daughter) and her own paternal uncle permissible or not? The actual situation is that the young man is adult, and the girl is adult and a virgin; they are almost the same age. The girl insists that if she is to marry, it must be to this young man; otherwise she will kill herself. In such a state of compulsion, is there any leeway in the Sharia for saving a life or for the sake of a happy life?

Answer

Nikah between a paternal uncle and his niece (his brother’s daughter) is haram and is not permissible in any circumstance. The Noble Qur’an says: [ar]حُرِّمَتْ عَلَيْكُمْ أُمَّهَـٰتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُكُمْ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُمْ وَعَمَّـٰتُكُمْ وَخَـٰلَـٰتُكُمْ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلْأَخِ[/ar] “Forbidden to you are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal…

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.