Muslims - Do you marry within your own family?

Question

I was reading the biography on Saddam and was rather shocked to see that it appears that he married his own cousin and that his daughters also married their cousins. Is this normal in the Middle East? In Islam?

Answer 1

It is permitted to marry cousins in islam -though it is discouraged becuase if done too much it can weaken a persons genes

the caliph Umar advised "Marry outside your close of kin"

Its not considered incest because they arent your brothers and sisters - Judaism allows the same - the belief that people born of cousins are stupid isnt true - Einstein was !!

Its practice varies in different Muslim communities



What is Islam's position on marriages between cousins? I ask you this question because of the growing controversy that such marriages are not healthy and are very likely to cause serious birth defects in the offspring. Please answer this question in the light of the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah. I would also like if you could give your own opinion on this subject matter keeping in mind the health risks posed by such marriages. Thank You.

Answer


Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner, we would like to thank you for the great confidence you place in us, and we implore Allah Almighty to help us serve His cause and render our work for His Sake.

Answering the question in point, Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of the Islamic Society of North America, states:

"Marriages between first cousins are allowed in Islam. In surat an-Nisa' (4:22-24), Allah mentioned the women who are forbidden for marriage and then He said, "… Lawful to you are all beyond those mentioned, so that you may seek them with your wealth in honest wedlock…" In surat al-Ahzab (33:50), Allah mentioned to the Prophet that he may marry the daughters of his uncles and aunts from the father's side or the mother's side. It is the consensus of the jurists that this permission was not only for the Prophet, but it is also a permission for other believers. Muslims have practiced marriages between first cousins in all countries since the time of the Prophet.

Such marriages are allowed in many other religions and cultures as well. In United States, most of the states allow marriages between the first cousins. There is nothing wrong in this marriage.

However, it is a good practice to have a blood test before marriage. If one suspects some hereditary disease or any other problem then he/she should seek the advice of a medical expert in this field. The chances of health risk in this marriage are very rare. Most of the marriages have been good and children quite healthy."

Excerpted, with slight modifications from: http://pakistanlink.com/religion.html

Elaborating on this issue, we'd like to cite the fatwa issued by Sheikh M. S. Al-Munajjid, a prominent Saudi Muslim lecturer and author. He states:

"There is no objection whatsoever in the Islamic religion for a man to marry any of his relatives except those forbidden for marriage whom Allah mentioned in surat an-Nisaa' (4: 23) Thus, when Allah mentioned for us the relatives to whom marriage is forbidden, we then come to know that there is no objection for the remainder of the family relations.

Among the most prominent evidence of this fact is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married his daughter Fatimah to `Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) and he is the son of her father's uncle, as well as the marriage of the Prophet himself to Zaynab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) and she is his aunt's daughter (i.e. his cousin); and there are many other such examples.

However, a different question may be asked, namely: "Is it better or preferable for a Muslim to marry someone he is not related to rather than a relative?"

The answer to this question varies from case to case, and perhaps it may be preferable to marry people who are non-relations, for example if one aspires to form new social ties or bonds, and regards the existence of a marriage relationship with a different family as constructive in widening the circle of social bonds." (Source: www.islam-qa.com)

Elaborating on the issue whether it is preferable not to marry close cousins, we’d like to cite for you the following fatwa:

“Islam permits marriage between first cousins. If we read the Qur'anic verses which enumerate women to whom a Muslim cannot be married, you will find that this list does not include cousins.

The Islamic view is that while marriage between cousins is permissible, it is preferable to choose a marriage partner from outside one's family. We have to distinguish between what is permitted and what is advocated. Some clans restrict marriages to amongst their kin only – a practice far from what is advocated. It is worth stressing here that when marriage of cousins is repeated over several generations, they are bound to have more effects on children.

By permitting such marriages Islam does not encourage them. It advocates the cementing of social relations through marriages between totally unrelated families.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) once told one of his Companions to choose a wife from a tribe different to his, and then to choose for his son a wife from a third tribe, and to seek for his second son a girl from yet another tribe.

Preferring this course of action, Islam nevertheless permits marriage between cousins because it meets a social need.”

Excerpted, with modifications, from: www.islamicity.com

In conclusion, it is clear that Islam, undoubtedly, permits marrying cousins. As for the issue of preferring to choose a marriage partner from outside one's family, this varies from one case to another. Yet, Islam is generally keen to widen the circle of social bonds. As for the fear of hereditary diseases, it is a good practice to have a blood test before marriage. If one suspects some hereditary disease or any other problem then he/she should seek the advice of a medical expert in this field.

May Allah guide you to the straight path and direct you to that which pleases Him, Ameen.
http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?pagename=IslamOnline-English-Ask_Scholar/FatwaE/FatwaE&cid=1119503544772

Marrying cousins is permitted in Islam. There is no real medical evidence that marrying a first cousin will lead itself to any weakening the gene-pool.

See, for example,

http://www.usatoday.com/news/healthscience/science/2002-04-04-cousins.htm
http://www.press.uillinois.edu/f96/ottenhei.html
http://www.discover.com/june_02/feat_kissing.html
http://www.cousincouples.com/info/facts.shtml
http://www.babymed.com/docs/english/782.asp

Answer 2

This question is one that needs clarifying. One of my best friends is Muslim and she is getting married to a man that is in no way related to her and her family. However, in some families, Muslim as well as Indian and other regions around the world, the children are required to marry within their family. My friend and her family believe this is wrong. I concur. Unfortunately, some familes do this for generations until someone "rebells" and marries someone other than their cousin. The way I understand it, this is a personal family preference and not a religious obligation or requirement. Thanks for asking this question. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Your question is very, how shall I say it, racist.
Don't be surprised if you get the same kind
of answers. It is people like you who keep
the hate going. Read some other books on
the Middle East and Islam that will give your
better understanding of the life and religion
of Muslims.
Saddam was not the best example for you
to build an opinion on.

Answer 4

It's a normal practice everywhere. The USA is the only western country with any restrictions on cousin marriage: even in that backward country, there are no restrictions in 26 states.

It is estimated that 20 percent of all couples worldwide are first cousins. It is also estimated that 80 percent of all marriages historically have been between first cousins.

Answer 5

Yes,they marry their own cousins.They say that by doing this they are not worried about their daughters going to strange families.They know everything about bridegrooms.

Answer 6

Christians marry cousins what are you talking about you even have incest in your bible that is sick

Answer 7

This is why there are so many crazies in some circles. Witness the royal families of history.

Answer 8

If it happens more of culture than it is religion. Respect our religion and undermining it does not make you a better person. Don't forget you judge people culture based on their view not based on your culture (sociology 101). Based on other cultures yours is not entirely acceptable.

Answer 9

though i am not a muslam i ve went to the middle east and they only do that for royal (tribel)reasons

Answer 10

yes, it is, i know a poor girl who was forced to marry her cousin, However, their mothers were identical twins, and their fathers were brothers and they grew up ij the same house. so basically, she was forced to marry her brother(EWWWW!!!!!!!), Now they blame her that their son is retarded