Prohibition Resulting from Massaging the Mother-in-Law’s Body

Question

Zayd, a young man, contracted nikah with Hinda’s daughter Zaynab. Before Zaynab reached maturity, it became known from Hinda’s own words that one night, when nearly half of it had passed, Zayd came and sat on Hinda’s bed while Hinda was sleeping, having taken off her (daytime) clothes and the like: she was wearing the ordinary clothes that are worn when lying down to sleep. Having sat down, Zayd began to massage Hinda’s body. Hinda said, “I am not at all tired, and this is not the time for massaging the body.

Answer

In the case asked about, Zayd’s word will be accepted in the Sharia, so long as certainty or a predominant supposition to the contrary is not obtained from clear indications (qara’in zahira). The finding of moisture on Zayd’s bedding in the morning is not a clear indication that he touched Hinda with desire, since it is possible that he had a nocturnal emission (ihtilam)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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