Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salam Alaikum,
By the grace of Allah, we have, in this website, a very authentic source of knowledge on the internet, and scores of Muslims are gaining guidance from it. May Allah reward your efforts unlimitedly. Ameen.

My question: I highly respect a cousin of mine, who is only 6 months older than me. It is not based on physical looks, as I have hardly ever seen pictures of him (he lives abroad and hasn`t visited our country for many years). I really pray to Allah that I could marry him one day, because of his morals... and also that, in this age of "faheeshah", people who offer even 5 daily prayers are hard to find!

The problem is that I`ve heard this said cousin of mine to express an opinion that inter-family marriages are not suitable. I, myself, being a student of science, have to agree on the scientific basis of genetics. However, I believe that if Allah allowed marriages among the cousins, etc., He would surely know what is right for us or not, whatever scientists say!

My cousin is particularly adamant on his stance because his parents are also first cousins, (his father is my maternal uncle also).

This issue might seem very stupid and nonsensical when viewed in the light of our true obligations on earth. We must not involve ourselves in these matters where the mind is diverted from religious duties. However, I really like my cousin, and thus, I cannot help but ask you this question.

Pleave provide me with your viewpoint!

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Marry cousins

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 23: Prohibited to you (for marriage) are: your mother, daughters, sisters, father's sisters, mother's sisters, brother's daughters, sister's daughters, foster-mothers (who gave you suck), foster-sisters, your wives' mothers, your step-daughters under your guardianship born of your wives to whom ye have gone in, no prohibition if ye have not gone in; (those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins, and two sisters in wedlock at one and the same time except for what is past; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Dear and Beloved Sisters, cousins are not amongst those relations whom the All-Knowing, All-Wise Lord has forbidden to be sought in marriage; thus marrying one’s cousins is absolutely permissible in Islam, if one wishes to do so.

Islam has not commanded that one must marry their cousins, but only given permission for those who do wish to seek marriage amongst their cousins. If modern science or genetic research have indeed proved and one fears that such a marriage might be detrimental for one’s health and/or increase the chances of hereditary ailments being transmitted, then one may very well choose not to marry one’s cousins.

One must remember that it is not as if all marriages amongst cousins result in genetically transferred ailments, but science and modern genetic research only state that if the genes of one’s lineage do have some specific ailments, the chances of their off-springs protracting those ailments are higher than those who do not marry those with common genes.

Cousins are considered non-mehrams in Islam, and Allah Subhanah has permitted the believers to marry amongst their cousins if they wish to do so, and if one wishes to marry any other eligible non-mehram, they may do so.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan