One must challenge any statements about the dangers of cousins marrying and make people aware of the facts. The eminent cousin marriages include: Leviticusis the book of Laws in Judaism. This rate has decreased to a very small percentage where Copts choose to marry cousins. Cousin couple have over 96% chance of having healthy kids while average is 98%, That way the next generation may give up the myth. [13], The pattern of inheritance of genetic abnormalities in Afghanistan has a significant impact on prevalence. Cousin marriage rates were higher among women, merchant families, and older well-established families. 3. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Are you allowed to marry your cousin in Islam? If yes, do you think Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi is the Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America. 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?". I agree. This situation was also loosening at the time of Patai's work. Consanguineous marriage is widely favoured in a large majority of the world's Islamic populations. The Cypriot Law demands testing prospective couples for Thalasemia gene before marriage. If there is history of certain disease in the family, the best would be to choose unrelated marriages. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. I dont feel people should be mandated to see genetic counseling, but every obstacle should be removed to allow them the opportunity. The concept is parallel to Halaal foods. These multifactoral disorders include a wide range of problems, and are often associated with low birth weight or premature birth. Since the Pahlavi era fewer Iranians have practised cousin marriages. Especially when the scientific data shows that the risk of congenital defects increases to twice as much in first cousin marriage compared to non cousin marriage, then why insist on this. "Two of my other children also died after reaching. Pious Muslims look to the life of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and early Muslims as examples to be followed, and "several members of the Prophet's family and inner circle were married to their cousins." In other words, those stepmother-stepson marriages that already happened before the revelation of 4:23 are not to dissolved to save a family. THE PURPOSE OF MARRIAGE IN ISLAM As you will have gathered by now, Muslims cannot enter into marriage lightly, just on a whim. [31] Estimates from the late 19th and early 20th century state variously that either 80 percent of the Egyptian fellahin[jargon] marry first cousins or two-thirds marry them if they exist. Is Cousin Marriage Recommended? We have to distinguish between what is permitted and what is advocated. Most of these countries never warn woman that having children over 30 will endanger your baby . Source:http://pakistanlink.com/religion.html. Click here now!In the near future I would expect more states to make it illegal but, eventually the facts will become known and the trend will reverse. We use cookies on IslamQA to measure visitor stats. [33] Consanguineous marriage in Pakistan was reported to be higher than 60% of the population in 2014. A more distant relative acquires priority to marry a girl over her paternal male cousin by reserving her soon after her birth[14], 39-45% of marriages in Bahrain are consanguineous according to a 2009 study in the journal Reproductive Health. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful. Ladislav Hol explains that it is not an independent phenomenon but merely one expression of a wider preference for agnatic solidarity, or solidarity with one's father's lineage. Examples of recessive diseases include Cystic Fibrosis, PKU, Tay Sachs and Sickle Cell. Should marrying cousins be the last resort. Cousin marriage, a form of consanguinity (marriages among couples who are related as second cousins or closer). Good effort. However, it is a good practice to have a blood test before marriage. [15] 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. When to start praying Darood Shareef for marriage? Is it Permissible to Allow Wheelchairs in a Masjid? In the above article the following sentence is the key: Cousin Marriages : Islam and Medical science - Brighter Kashmir 4. Is Marrying Your Cousin Haram In Islam - Complete Detail - Halal Adviser Ghulam Hussain Baloch, a resident of Balochistan, told DW that marrying outside of your tribe is considered a major social taboo. Are First Cousin Marriages Permissible in Islam? Professor Spencer said: Women over the age of 40 have a similar risk of having children with birth defects and no one is suggesting they should be prevented from reproducing.. Health expert Daulah, however, said that more needs to be done to change people's mindsets on the danger of having children with close family members. In Pakistan, where there has been cousin marriage for generations and the current rate may exceed 50%, 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 . InsuratAn-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 Iraq the right of the cousin has also traditionally been followed as cousin marriage accounts 50%. In Islam, a milk mother is generally understood as a woman who has breastfed a baby that she hasn't given birth to on at least five occasions before . There is no objection whatsoever in the Islamic religion for a man to marry any of his relatives except al-maharim (those forbidden for marriage ) whom Allah mentioned in Surat Al-Nisa, 4:23 (interpretation of the meaning): Prohibited to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, daughters, sisters; father's sisters, mother's sisters; brother's daughters, sister's daughters; foster-mothers (who breast-fed you), foster-sisters (who breast-fed from the same woman as you); your wives' mothers; your step-daughters under your guardianship, born of your wives with whom you have consummated marriage, no prohibition if ye have not consummated; (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.. 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. When I tell my non-believer friends what girls cant practice polyandry while guys can practice polygny, I find it hard explaining it to them why Allah has programmed women to not be able to have multiple husbands. Hol believed that many of his findings from field experience among the Berti people of Pakistan could generalize to other Middle Eastern groups. [41], Advice on cousin marriage in the Middle East has not always been positive, however. I believe people should look when marrying more than fist month of marriage, and think about Long term, children , and giving the children healthy environment wher both parents. Cousin marriages can offer several social advantages, but, one needs to be able to see any good science with an open mind. While babies of Pakistani heritage accounted for roughly 3.4% of all births in the UK (2005), "they had 30% of all British children with recessive disorders and a higher rate of infant mortality," according to research done by the BBC. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 18.8% (757,000) drink alcohol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEn7XOr34Zo&w=560&h=315%5D, PGD, Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis for Genetic Disorders Preventing genetic diseases by testing IVF embryos, The Muslim Times has the best collection of articles on the anticipated genetic The Muslim Times, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/4442010.stm, The tragic truth about cousin marriages: They can cause a litany of genetic illnesses and theyre a key factor in the deaths of two children a week in Britain, so why is it taboo to talk about them, asks SUE REID The Muslim Times, https://www.trendrr.net/8004/countries-with-highest-divorce-rate-world-famous-lowest-india-japan/, https://www.worldblaze.in/top-10-countries-with-the-highest-rates-of-autism/, Consanguineous Marriages: A Cultural Crisis Affinity Magazine, Friday Sermon Summary 14th July 2023: Life of the Holy Prophet (sa) Ill Fate of the Chieftains of Makkah & Treatment of the Prisoners of War, Last ship leaves Ukraine as Black Sea grain deal expires, Moderate Muslim voices deserve to be heard in America, City leaders join Ahmadi Muslims in service to Harrisburg, USA, After TLP threats, police demolish minarets of Ahmadi worship place in Jhelum, Pierre Poilievre among long list of dignitaries at Jalsa Salana Ahmadiyya Muslim convention in Mississauga, US military bases. There are 97% chances of the baby, free of birth defects in non-cousin marriages. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Hadhrat Masih i Maud(AH) first married Hurmat Bibi at the age of 16 who was his first cousin. Close family ties and many other benefits . Islam The Quran at 4:22-24 states. Consanguinity - Wikipedia These Researchers included: Results of These Researchers Another reason is the relationship between cousin marriage and agnatic solidarity. Abu Hamid al-Ghazali (10591111) in his principal ethical work, the Ihya 'ulum al-din, gives the different reason that "the woman should not be a near relative of the husband, because near relationship diminishes the sensuous desire." Reportedly the husband and wife would continue to call each other "cousin" because the tie of blood was seen as indissoluble while the marriage was not. Patai states that bride price to a cousin is usually about half as high as to a nonrelative. Cheema said pre-natal screening will help parents decide whether to terminate the pregnancy in cases where lethal disorders are detected. Endogamy was a norm in Judaism. One can eliminate this directly by becoming her husband. 71 Windsor St, Salisbury, SP2 7EA, UK. 3. She said several genetic disorders are commonly found in this community. 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. By permitting such marriages Islam does not encourage them. We have reviewed the religious, cultural and medical background. However, it is a good practice to have a blood test before marriage. Mothers who are over 35 are thirty times more likely to have a child with Downs Syndrome. My second cousin married his first cousin and had 6 kids all of them healthy and one of them won Highest markets in her final year school, The whole North eastern kenya province . But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Very informative article about genetic in cousin marriage, https://www.cousincouples.com/?page=overview, Consanguinity Prevents Middle Eastern Political development, Cousin Marriage Conundrum: the Ancient Practice Discourages Democratic Nation, Benjamin Franklin: Laws too gentle are seldom obeyed; too severe, seldom executed!. Abraham wife Sarah was a half-sister of Abraham. 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. Cousin marriages, including those between first cousins, are permitted by Islamic law and scriptures and were practiced by Muhammad himself as well as his companions. It is a thing foul and hateful and an evil way. (Al Quran: 4:23). Cousins share an exclusive history with each other. Symbolic Protest: Muslim Man Declines to Burn Torah and Bible Despite Approval By Swedish, Muharram Important Dates and Major Events (First Islamic Month), Islamic New Year 2023 Wishes and Greetings, Below 18 Pilgrims Must Need An Adult for Umrah: New Rule, UK, EU and US Vote Against Ban On Quran Burning, UN Resolution. Medical stigma was attached to cousin marriages in view of a report published by BBC. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The graph above illustrates various inherited types of conditions, as well as the background risk (which everybody has) and the increased risk for specific groups. The Al-Islam.org site and the DILP are entirely supported by individual donors and well wishers. Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. The children's hospital in Lahore is now offering free genetic screening services in cooperation with Germany's CENTOGENE diagnostics company and other international organizations. Answer Contents Related Can you marry your cousin? What would be the use of prenatal counselling when you see that there is a good chance of having a baby w/ genetic disease for couple (cousins). Often two brothers from one family marry two sisters of another, the same problem, if one marriage fails the other is suffering too. [1], Anthropologists have debated the significance of the practice; some view it as the defining feature of the Middle Eastern kinship system while others note that overall rates of cousin marriage have varied sharply between different Middle Eastern communities. [15], Cousin marriages are decreasing among Iranians. As for the fear of hereditary diseases, it is a good practice to have a blood test before marriage. As-salmu 'alaykum wa-rahmatullhi wa-baraktuh. In Sura Nisa' (4:22-24), Allah Most High lists all the categories of women that one cannot marry, which does not mention first cousins, and then says, "Lawful to you are all besides those mentioned." For more about marriage to cousins in Islam, please see these answers: 98931 , 222086 , 12335 , and 5240, Source: This is an idealized system: some Middle Eastern societies do mix it with other systems that assign more responsibility to the husband's family. 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} [15] By providing such information and options, we would be giving cousins the freedom to make an informed decision. The chances of health risk in this marriage are very rare. Cigarette smoking causes a 1.4 2.5% increase of low birth weight and related problems, learning disabilities, and cleft lip and/or palette. It was claimed that such marriages are leading to a striking rise in the incidence of rare recessive disorders, many of which are fatal. If anyone must do cousin marriage and have resources and money, they should consider test tube baby after genetic testing, this will almost completely take out any risk from cousin marriage plus more. In the United States, most of the states allow marriages between the first cousins. According to the database, more than 1,000 mutations have been reported in 130 different kinds of genetic disorders found in Pakistan. Most of its teachings are also followed by Christians too.