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Cousin Marriage in Islamic Law: Difference between revisions
Couldn't find any evidence for the claim that it is considered sunnah or recommended (as opposed to just permitted). In fact the claim has been contested. Also could find no evidence to back up Jone's claim about avunculate marriage which in any case is expressly forbidden in 4:23 quoted.
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Lightyears (talk | contribs) (Couldn't find any evidence for the claim that it is considered sunnah or recommended (as opposed to just permitted). In fact the claim has been contested. Also could find no evidence to back up Jone's claim about avunculate marriage which in any case is expressly forbidden in 4:23 quoted.) |
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|title=Cousin Marriage in Islamic Law | |||
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[[File:Ali x fatimah.jpg|thumb|319x319px|Early painting depicting Ali's wedding to his cousin Fatimah (Muhammad's daughter).]] | [[File:Ali x fatimah.jpg|thumb|319x319px|Early painting depicting Ali's wedding to his cousin Fatimah (Muhammad's daughter).]] | ||
'''Cousin marriages''', including those between first cousins, are permitted by [[Shari'ah (Islamic Law)|Islamic law]] and [[scriptures]] and were practiced by [[Muhammad ibn Abdullah|Muhammad]] himself as well as [[Sahabah|his companions]]. Muhammad's practice of cousin marriage | '''Cousin marriages''', including those between first cousins, are permitted by [[Shari'ah (Islamic Law)|Islamic law]] and [[scriptures]] and were practiced by [[Muhammad ibn Abdullah|Muhammad]] himself as well as [[Sahabah|his companions]]. The Quran and Muhammad's practice of cousin marriage have cemented the legality of the practice in all Islamic legal schools, though some scholars said that marriage to non-relatives is preferable, and a few hadiths of contested authenticity discourage marriage to close relations.<ref>[https://fiqh.islamonline.net/en/marrying-ones-close-relative/ Marrying one's close relatives] - fiqh section of the Islamonline website.</ref> Cousin marriages have been common throughout Islamic history<ref>Goody, Marriage and the Family in Europe</ref> and remain so in Muslim-majority nations today, comprising a significant percentage of the total population of these nations. | ||
Children born of cousin marriages face an increased risk of genetic disorders and childhood mortality<ref>Bittles, Alan H.; et al. (10 May 1991). "Reproductive Behavior and Health in Consanguineous Marriages". Science. 252 (5007): 789–794. doi:10.1126/science.2028254. PMID 2028254, p. 790</ref><ref>Bittles, A.H. (May 2001). "A Background Background Summary of Consaguineous marriage" (PDF). consang.net consang.net. Retrieved 19 January 2010. citing Bittles, A.H.; Neel, J.V. (1994). "The costs of human inbreeding and their implications for variation at the DNA level". ''Nature Genetics''. '''8''' (2): 117–121</ref> and are thus prohibited in some countries.<ref>"The Surprising Truth About Cousins and Marriage". 14 February 2014.</ref><ref>Paul, Diane B.; Spencer, Hamish G. (23 December 2008). ""It's Ok, We're Not Cousins by Blood": The Cousin Marriage Controversy in Historical Perspective". ''PLOS Biology''. '''6''' (12): 2627–30. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060320. PMC 2605922. <nowiki>PMID 19108607</nowiki>.</ref> One study estimated infant mortality at 12.7 percent for married double first cousins, 7.9 percent for first cousins, 9.2 percent for first cousins once removed/double second cousins, 6.9 percent for second cousins, and 5.1 percent among non-consanguineous progeny. Among double first cousin progeny, 41.2 percent of pre-reproductive deaths were associated with the expression of detrimental recessive genes, with equivalent values of 26.0, 14.9, and 8.1 percent for first cousins, first cousins once removed/double second cousins, and second cousins respectively. | Children born of cousin marriages face an increased risk of genetic disorders and childhood mortality<ref>Bittles, Alan H.; et al. (10 May 1991). "Reproductive Behavior and Health in Consanguineous Marriages". Science. 252 (5007): 789–794. doi:10.1126/science.2028254. PMID 2028254, p. 790</ref><ref>Bittles, A.H. (May 2001). "A Background Background Summary of Consaguineous marriage" (PDF). consang.net consang.net. Retrieved 19 January 2010. citing Bittles, A.H.; Neel, J.V. (1994). "The costs of human inbreeding and their implications for variation at the DNA level". ''Nature Genetics''. '''8''' (2): 117–121</ref> and are thus prohibited in some countries.<ref>"The Surprising Truth About Cousins and Marriage". 14 February 2014.</ref><ref>Paul, Diane B.; Spencer, Hamish G. (23 December 2008). ""It's Ok, We're Not Cousins by Blood": The Cousin Marriage Controversy in Historical Perspective". ''PLOS Biology''. '''6''' (12): 2627–30. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0060320. PMC 2605922. <nowiki>PMID 19108607</nowiki>.</ref> One study estimated infant mortality at 12.7 percent for married double first cousins, 7.9 percent for first cousins, 9.2 percent for first cousins once removed/double second cousins, 6.9 percent for second cousins, and 5.1 percent among non-consanguineous progeny. Among double first cousin progeny, 41.2 percent of pre-reproductive deaths were associated with the expression of detrimental recessive genes, with equivalent values of 26.0, 14.9, and 8.1 percent for first cousins, first cousins once removed/double second cousins, and second cousins respectively. | ||
There is an increasing awareness in the Muslim world of the risks of multi-generational cousin marriage, and an increasing number of voices calling for it to be discouraged | There is an increasing awareness in the Muslim world of the risks especially of multi-generational cousin marriage (which compounds the above dangers), and an increasing number of voices calling for it to be discouraged, even if it remains permitted. | ||
==Cousin marriage in scripture== | ==Cousin marriage in scripture== | ||
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===Quran=== | ===Quran=== | ||
{{Quran|4|23}}, in leaving out mention of one's cousins in its list of those relatives to whom marriage is prohibited, permits cousin marriage. | {{Quran|4|23}}, in leaving out mention of one's cousins in its list of those relatives to whom marriage is prohibited, permits cousin marriage. | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|4| | {{Quote|{{Quran|4|23}}|Forbidden to you (are) your mothers and your daughters and your sisters and your father's sisters and your mother's sisters and daughters (of) brothers, and daughters (of) sisters and (the) mothers who nursed you and your sisters from the nursing and mothers (of) your wives and your step daughters who (are) in your guardianship of your women whom you had relations with them, but if not you had relations with them, then (there is) no sin on you. And wives (of) your sons, those who (are) from your loins and that you gather together [between] two sisters except what has passed before. Indeed, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful.}} | ||
{{Quran|33|50}}, in discussing the exclusive marital rights of the prophet Muhammad, explicitly permits him to marry his first cousins.{{Quote|{{Quran|33|50}}|O Prophet! Indeed, We [We] have made lawful to you your wives (to) whom you have given their bridal money and whom you rightfully possess from those (whom) Allah has given to you, and (the) daughters (of) your paternal uncles and (the) daughters (of) your paternal aunts and (the) daughters (of) your maternal uncles and (the) daughters (of) your maternal aunts who emigrated with you, and a woman believing if she gives herself to the Prophet if wishes the Prophet to marry her - only for you, excluding the believers. Certainly, We know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and whom they rightfully possess, that not should be on you any discomfort. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful}} | {{Quran|33|50}}, in discussing the exclusive marital rights of the prophet Muhammad, explicitly permits him to marry his first cousins.{{Quote|{{Quran|33|50}}|O Prophet! Indeed, We [We] have made lawful to you your wives (to) whom you have given their bridal money and whom you rightfully possess from those (whom) Allah has given to you, and (the) daughters (of) your paternal uncles and (the) daughters (of) your paternal aunts and (the) daughters (of) your maternal uncles and (the) daughters (of) your maternal aunts who emigrated with you, and a woman believing if she gives herself to the Prophet if wishes the Prophet to marry her - only for you, excluding the believers. Certainly, We know what We have made obligatory upon them concerning their wives and whom they rightfully possess, that not should be on you any discomfort. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful}} | ||
===Hadith and sirah=== | ===Hadith and sirah=== | ||
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==In the Islamic world today== | ==In the Islamic world today== | ||
===Pakistan=== | ===Pakistan=== | ||
Cousin marriage has been common in Pakistan for generations. According to professor Anne-Marie Nybo Andersen from South Danish University, the current rate is about 70%.<ref>[http://fpn.dk/liv/krop_valvare/article1616165.ece Flere dødfødsler blandt indvandrere (Danish language)] - fpn.dk,February 27, 2009</ref> | Cousin marriage has been common in Pakistan for generations. According to professor Anne-Marie Nybo Andersen from South Danish University, the current rate is about 70%.<ref>[http://fpn.dk/liv/krop_valvare/article1616165.ece Flere dødfødsler blandt indvandrere (Danish language)] - fpn.dk,February 27, 2009</ref> | ||