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Islam does not discourage marriage among cousins. But Imam Shafi and Imam Ahmad, the two leading scholars of the Sunni school of thought dislike cousin marriage and have declared it as makruh. Similarly, some other scholars like Imam Ghazali have also discouraged cousin marriage.
In sum, it is permissible to marry first cousins in Islam and there is little harm with that. In terms of continuous inbreeding of cousins, then it is from the Adab (etiquette) of those before us to avoid this out of fear of birth defects. It should be noted however, that this is simply an Adab and not a prohibition. Everything is in the Hand of Allah, the Exalted and Sublime.
Now what did our ancestors feel about cousin marriage
Imam ash-Shafiโee (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:
ููููุณู ู ููู ููููู ู ูุง ููุฎูุฑูุฌูููู ููุณูุงุกูููู ู ุฅูููู ุฑูุฌูุงูู ุบูููุฑูููู ู ููู ุงูุชููุฒููููุฌู ุ ูููุง ุฑูุฌูุงููููู ู ุฅูููู ููุณูุงุกู ุบูููุฑูููู ู ููู ุงูุชููุฒููููุฌู ุ ุฅููุง ุฌูุงุกู ุฃููููุงุฏูููู ู ุญูู ูููู
โThere is not a group of people who do not bring forth their women to marry men other than their own men, nor do their men go forth to marry women other than their own, except their children will be fools (i.e. born with a mental defect)โ [Adaab ash-Shaafiโee wa Manaaqibuhu (pg. 99) with a Saheeh chain of narration]
Imam al-Maawardi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: โThey (i.e. the Arab) used to choose or the likes of this situation marrying those who are distantly related and are strangers (to each other). They saw that this is more conducive for childbirth and excellent for the creation (of a newborn). They used to avoid marrying family and relatives. They saw that it was harmful for the creation of the child and its birthโ End translation. [Adab ad-Dunya wad-Deen (pg. 173)]
In sum, it is permissible to marry first cousins in Islam and there is little harm with that. In terms of continuous inbreeding of cousins, then it is from the Adab (etiquette) of those before us to avoid this out of fear of birth defects. It should be noted however, that this is simply an Adab and not a prohibition. Everything is in the Hand of Allah, the Exalted and Sublime.
Now what did our ancestors feel about cousin marriage
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