Question

I went to give my father-in-law some documents in his room. He was alone. As I handed him the documents, he caught me around my waist and began fondling my breasts. His actions were definitely done with lust and with an evil intention. However, he did not get the opportunity of touching my bare body. I broke away from him and said that his behaviour was unacceptable, and I ran out of his house. He is now very apologetic and remorseful for his actions. What is the state of my Nikah? Was-salaam

Answer

If your evil father-in-law had not fondled any bare part of your body, then your Nikah is still valid.

Since he had committed this heinous act of immorality with you, do understand that it is no longer permissible for you to be in his presence alone. Do not greet him nor respond to his salaam. Stay far, very far from this scoundrel. He is a dangerous beast. His lust blinded him to the consequences which would have ensured if he had touched any bare part of your body. You would have become haraam for your husband.

These kinds of concupiscent misdemeanours are not exceptions. Too much of this filth occurs when caution is thrown overboard. It should be understood well that shahwat (lust) for one’s daughter-in-law always lies dormant in a man. If she had not married his son, nikah would have been valid with him (i.e. with the man who is now her father-in-law).

In view of the existence of lust which lies dormant, the danger is real when caution is cast overboard. For this reason a man is not a valid mahram for his daughter-in-law for a journey, nor should they be alone, nor should she be dressed provocatively in his presence. The need is for total precaution. Full Hijaab, except the face, should be maintained for the father-in-law.

The type of filth as mentioned in the question is in fact a norm in today’s society.

Don’t ever trust your father-in-law. Don’t be trusting! Such misplaced trust is a fatal blunder fraught with disastrous consequences which will ruin your life and the life of families. Don’t be stupid! Rasulullah (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “Al-hamwul Maut.”, i.e. a woman’s brother-in-law is her ‘death’. She must beware of him more than even total strangers. The Fuqaha have brought the father-in-law within the purview of ‘Al-Hamw’. He too constitutes the ‘death’ of his daughter-in-law, and worse.

Therefore, do not trust him even if he is a Maulana or a Buzroog, be he a genuine Aalim or a genuine Buzrug. We say: Do not trust him. When shahwat (lust) grips him, all his knowledge, wisdom, taqwa and buzrugiyat evaoparte into thin air. His brain becomes jarred with the lust of his nafs. Imaam Ghazaali (Rahmatullah alayh) said that when a man is trapped in his lust for a woman, 80% of his brain cells become inoperative. Therefore, do not trust him! He becomes a dangerous scoundrel.

It is impossible for men deficient or lacking in true Taqwa and Khauf-e-Ilaahi (Fear for Allah) to maintain intellectual equilibrium and sagacity when overwhelmed by shahwat. The Mashaaikh say:

“Verily, Allah loves a discerning gaze at the time of doubt, and Allah loves a kaamil (perfect) Aql (intelligence) at the time of permeation of lust.”

It is extremely rare, in fact impossible in this era of fitnah, for even a genuine Buzrug to measure up to this moral maxim and acquit himself with a kaamil aql when shahwat devours him. So be on the safe side – do not trust him! Do not trust anyone! Most of these men camoflauged with the outer façade of beards, kurtahs, and turbans are scoundrels in the domain of morality. Therefore, do not be deceived by the external cover of piety.

When this is the rotten state of even so-called people of the Deen, and of even true Ulama and Mashaaikh, what conclusion should be drawn about the rubbish modernists who masquerade as Muslims while their hearts are saturated with kufr?

Insha-Allah, in one of our future articles we shall tell you the story of a genuine Buzrug, an acknowledged Shaikhul Hadith, Mufassir, etc., of recent times – of our era. He has left this dunya. May Allah Ta’ala have mercy on him and forgive him. Insha-Allah, without identifying him, and with changing some of the details to deflect recognition from his identity, we shall tell you the story of 80% of his brain cells having become inoperative. His name is an absolute bombshell. May Allah Ta’ala save us fussaaq and fujjaar from the evils of our nafs and the snares of Iblees.

22 Ramadhaan 1442 (5 May 2021)