Islam permits cousin marriage primarily because the Quran doesn't forbid it, allowing it within the broader context of family unity, financial stability by keeping wealth in the family, and cultural practices emphasizing clan loyalty, though some prominent Islamic scholars viewed it as disliked (makruh) due to potential social or financial strains, notes Wikipedia and Semantic Scholar pdfs.semanticscholar.org
"The Prophet was well aware that it is a person's standing in the eyes of Allah that is important, rather than his or her status in the eyes of the people... their marriage would demonstrate that it was not who their ancestors were, but rather their standing in the sight of Allah, that mattered."
Muslim Hausas practice cousin marriage preferentially, and polygyny is allowed if the husband can support multiple wives.
Answering a 2012 audience question, the Islamic preacher Zakir Naik said that the Quran does not forbid cousin marriage but quotes Dr. Ahmed Sakr as saying that there is a hadith of Muhammad that says: "Do not marry generation after generation among first cousins".
The Saudi population are all Muslims and marriage regulations permit marriage between first, second cousins and double first cousins. The Holy Quran provides clear guidelines as to who a person can marry and this permits cousin marriages [Chapter 4: verse 23].
A bride-to-be may also include terms in her marriage contract that require monogamy for her husband or require her consent before he marries another wife. Other verses prohibit marriage to a close relative of any of the multiple wives (a wife's sister, daughter, mother, niece, aunt, etc.).
Having children with your eighth, sixth, or even a fifth cousin, is not inbreeding, whereas first-cousin parenting is inbreeding to such a degree that there are laws dealing with it. But fascinating research shows that the highest human fertility rates exist among couples who are 3rd cousins.
In an essay posted without fanfare to its website in late October, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said for the first time that Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, had as many as 40 wives. Some of those women were also married to friends of his.
Later, on Talk TV, he pointed to data showing that infant mortality rates are higher for children born to cousin parents, with more heart, brain, and kidney problems due to recessive disorders. He also explained that health effects can be "compounded" when the practice persists through generations.
extensive kinship patterns to study consanguineous marriage patterns in Pakistan, which has the highest rate of cousin marriage in the world.
Actually, it's not haram. In fact, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was married to his first cousin, Zaynab Bint Jahsh 💍🧕. So, from a religious perspective, cousin marriage has historical precedent. However, there is an important health consideration to keep in mind.
SUMMARY: The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to kiss his wife Aisha (RA) while both of them were fasting. Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu'minin: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to kiss me when he was fasting and when I was fasting.
Historical Narrations Mention a Much Higher Number
But Al-Hafidh ibn Hajar narrated in his story of Sulayman (peace be upon him) in Al-Bidayah wanl-Nihayah, vol. 2, from many of the Salaf, that the number of Sulayman's wives was one thousand.
Rather, it was deemed permissible for ʻAa'ishah to play with these dolls because she had not yet reached puberty then.
In the United States, second cousins are legally allowed to marry in every state. However, marriage between first cousins is legal in only about half of the American states. All in all, marrying your cousin or half-sibling will largely depend on the laws where you live and personal and/or cultural beliefs.
Most babies born to cousin couples are healthy. A problem only arises when there is a changed gene for a recessive disorder in the family and both parents happen to carry this changed gene. For such a couple, there is a ¼ chance in every pregnancy that the child may inherit the disorder.
Ageing populations and falling birthrates mean people have more living grandparents and great-grandparents, but fewer nieces, nephews, grandchildren and cousins.
25 Therefore, according to NU, the prohibition on marrying mahram in this context does not apply automatically, so that technically a biological father can marry his child born from adultery. However, NU also pays serious attention to the moral and social aspects related to the impact of this kind of marriage.
Among Palestinian Arabs the rate of consanguinity is very high and some 44.3% of the marriages are between relatives (22.6% of them between first cousins).
You cannot marry your mother, grandmother, daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, great-niece, aunts, or great-aunts. You also cannot marry someone who is also related to you through such relatives.
The commonest type of consanguineous marriage was between first cousins (26.2%). Double first cousin marriages were common (3.5%) compared to other populations. The consanguinity rate in the UAE has increased from 39% to 50.5% in one generation.
It is apparent that the Muslims have higher prevalence (31%) of consanguineous marriages followed by Buddhist 22%. Hindu and Christian have similar prevalence of such marriages i.e. 14%. Jain and Sikh have 6% and 2% consanguineous marriages respectively.