COUSIN MARRIAGE: AN ISLAMIC PROSPECT

Introduction
What is a Cousin Marriage?

It is generally regarded as the marriage between two close blood relatives. There are various terms being used in this context. These terms are of legal importance and have implications in genetic and Inheritance issues. Cousins may be:

1. First Cousin
2. Second Cousin
3. Parallel cousin (two brothers or two sister’s children) Chacha, Taya, Khala
4. Crossed Cousin (a brother and her sister’s children) Mamoon zad, Phoophi zad
5. Double first cousin—two persons are Double first cousins when both of their parents are first cousins.
6. Consanguinity is the degree of closeness the common ancestor

However if your father has passed away and he leaves behind a wife who is not your mother, you are allowed to marry her although it is a foul, hateful and an evil way
Generally one likes to marry someone who is more or less similar to oneself in every way/ many ways. This is called marrying in your own Kufoo’v. Compatible kufoo’vs make people more compatible in relationships. Cousins; especially when raised in similar environment; mostly make appropriate Kufoo’vs and Islam recommends marrying within Kufoo’vs.
There have been many eminent cousin marriages in all religions and cultures.

1. The Holy Prophets’ wife Hazrat Zainab binat Jahash was the daughter of Hazoor’s (SAW) aunt.
2. Hadhrat Fatima was married to to Hadhrat Ali and HadhratAli was Hadhrat Abu Talib’s son who was an Uncle to Hazoor SAW
3. Several other members of the Prophet’s family and inner circle were married to their cousins.
4. Hadhrat Masih i Maud(AH) first married Hurmat Bibi at the age of 16 who was his first cousin.
5. Many Arab kings and queens and eminent people including Sadam Husain (wife: Saghira) were married to their cousins

Endogamy was a norm in Judaism. Cousin marriages were so common in Jewish ancestors that Hadhrat Yaqoob’s (Jacob) eight sons had only six grandparents. The eminent cousin marriages include:

1. Hadhrat Abraham to Hadhrat Sarah
2. Hadhrat Isaac to Rebecca
3. Hadrhat Jacob to Leah ad Rachel
4. your mother
5. your father’s wife
6. your sister, (whole or half) “whether she was born in the same home or elsewhere” (v.9)
7. your grandchild
8. the daughter of your father’s wife (step-sister)
9. your mother’s sister (aunt) “as she is your mother’s close relative”
10. your father’s sister (aunt) “as she is your father’s close relative”
11. your father’s brother’s wife (aunt)
12. your son’s wife
13. your brother’s wife
14. with both a woman and her daughter
15. your wife’s sister as a rival wife (to spite your first wife)
16.  with your neighbor’s wifea

Forbidden Marriages:Sura Al Nisa explains clearly what sort of marriages are prohibited in Islam and it does not include first cousins."Forbidden to you are your mothers, and your daughters, and your sisters, and your fathers’ sisters, and your mothers’ sisters, and brother’s daughters, and sister’s daughters, and your foster-mothers that have given you suck, and your foster-sisters, and the mothers of your wives, and your stepdaughters, who are your wards by your wives unto whom you have gone in — but if you have not gone in unto them, there shall be no sin upon you — and the wives of your sons that are from your loins; and it is forbidden to you to have two sisters together in marriage, except what has already passed; surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful”. (Al Qur’an: 4:24)

These verses present the  summary of the prohibited marriages in Islam and it does not include Cousin in the list.

The Holy Quran also tells us not to marry the step mothers.
“And marry not those women whom your fathers married, except what has already passed. It is a thing foul and hateful and an evil way.” (Al Qur’an: 4:23)

Married Women are also forbidden for marriage:
So a woman, unlike a man, cannot have two husbands at one time.The above account shows that Islam does not prohibit cousin marriages. This is according to the Law of Nature which is followed in all the Islamic Teachings. Islam is known as Deen e Fitrat which means the Religion according to human nature.

 Kufoo’VCousin Marriage is Halaal but not an obligation. The concept is parallel to Halaal foods. For example; even though grain is Halaal and Tayyab yet, many of us may not take it for medical or otherwise or no reason at all and there is nothing wrong with that. 

Important Cousin MarriagesIn Islamic History:

Cousin Marriage in JudaismLeviticus is the book of Laws in Judaism. Most of its teachings are also followed by Christians too. According to Leviticus (Book of Law): ch: 18, following are the forbidden relations for sexual life.

We notice that all the relations are same as cited in the Holy Qur’an. And above all it does not include COUSINS!

FOR MORE INFORMATION WHAT SCIENCE HAS TO SAY ABOUT IT READ 

http://siraaijaz.blogspot.com/2017/03/cousin-marriage-triggers-disorder-by.html

Source:
https://themuslimtimes.info/2013/01/29/cousin-marriage/   By Dr Amtul Qudoos Farhat, MBBS, DCH (UK), FCPS (Pediatrics)