No, a man cannot marry his wife's niece in Islam.
Islamic law prohibits certain marital relationships based on blood relations (consanguinity), affinity (marriage), and fosterage. A wife's niece falls under the prohibited category of affinity. While not a blood relative, the marital relationship with the aunt (the wife) creates a bond that prohibits marriage to the niece.
Prohibited Marriages in Islam:
Here’s a breakdown of prohibited relationships in marriage according to Islamic law, relevant to this question:
- Consanguinity (Blood Relations): Mothers, daughters, sisters, paternal aunts, maternal aunts, and nieces (both brother's daughters and sister's daughters) are prohibited.
- Affinity (Marriage Related): Mothers-in-law, step-daughters (if the marriage with the mother has been consummated), and daughters-in-law are prohibited. Importantly, marrying a wife's niece is also prohibited.
- Fosterage (Milk Relations): Relationships established through breastfeeding under specific conditions create similar prohibitions as blood relations.
The rationale behind these prohibitions is to maintain family harmony and prevent conflicts of interest. Allowing a man to marry his wife’s niece could create complex and potentially disruptive family dynamics.
Therefore, marriage to a wife's niece is explicitly forbidden in Islam.
