“Uqbah ibn ‘Amir (radiyallahu ‘anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) said,
“Beware of intermingling with women (in isolation)” then a man from the Ansar said,
“O Rasulullah, what about the brother in law (and other male in laws)?”
He (sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam) replied, “The in laws are death.”
Answer
People are generally not too particular in ensuring seclusion from the in laws, hence there is more opportunity for the sin of intermingling occurring with them.
Nabi (sallallahu’alayhi wasallam) used this expression to create additional caution against being lax in this situation.
Therefore, one should be more cautious in this situation than others, due to the general laxity in this regard.
Be fearful of this like we fear death, i.e; total caution.
(Refer: Al-Minjaj of ‘Allamah Nawawi, Hadith: 5638. Also refer to Fathul Bari, Hadith: 5232 for additional explanations)
This Hadith is recorded by Imams Bukhari, [Hadith: 5232] and Muslim [Hadith: 5638] (rahimahumallah).
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best,
Answered by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar