[H1]Cousin Marriages and its effects, what Pakistan can do to prevent it moving forward.[/H1]
Hi there, i will start the post by saying that cousin marriages are extremely common in Pakistan, more then anyone in its region. The affect these marriages have can be genetical as well as making the atmosphere of the country less capable of being progressive as it restricts free choice of spouses.
Starting of with the genetic side affects these marriages have
- being married to your cousin significantly increases the risk of congenital anomalies (birth defects), as outlined in The Lancet in July 2013. Cousin marriage increases the risks of birth defects from 3% to 6%.
- In Pakistan these cousin marriages are not about love but rather them having to get married for the sake of it. A girls parent most of the time forces her daughter to get married to their cousins. This mentality is very disastrous for the society as a whole and women freedom.
- it is promoted and seen as acceptable by uneducated religious zealots who don't know any better because it is not prohibited in Islam, fast food in unhealthy and not prohibited in Islam either, does that mean we should eat fast food all the time.
- Now one of cousin marriages may be fine in the situation however, the situation is that most of these marriages are not one of and there going through generations of consanguineous marriages.
Now according to Islam
Imam shafi says its disliked because it produces weak and mentally retarded children:
"There 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)" [Adaab ash-Shaafi'ee wa Manaaqibuhu (pg. 99)
Source: al-Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr 1371
Holy Prophet (saw) said, "Don't marry a near relative (such as a first cousin) as it results in a defective or weak child that is born" 12
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) married out his blood line to Khadijah which grants further genetic diversity.
Al-Ghazali (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
She should not be a close relative, because that reduces desire… End quote from Ihya' 'Ulum ad-Din (2/41).
Ibn Abi Mulaykah reported: Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the house of Al-Sa'ib, "You have become frail, so marry intelligent people unrelated to you."
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
Imam al-Maawardi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: "They (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 birth" End translation. [Adab ad-Dunya wad-Deen (pg. 173)]
In summary, even though Islam does not prohibit cousin marriages, it is still disliked and discouraged. Anything harmful is for a child will always be prohibited in Islam.
Another reason to avoid "possible conflict" within the 2 families, if you marry your cousin and then get a divorce, big drama might happen between the 2 families and if you marry someone who isn't a cousin/relative then no drama is going to take place.
Islam always teaches us that prevention is better than cure.
Now a solution for this is to spread awareness about this in Pakistan, about what Islam says, how according to Islam women should have the choice to marry their own spouses and not be forced with a cousin, this inherently will reduce the cousin marriages, also strict laws and policies should be put in place which prohibits cousin marriages or blood related marriages. The government should take action and build a more progressive environment for women for a better future. We as ordinary Pakistanis should help raise awareness, try to stop others from carrying on this disastrous practice and spread the word.
Thanks for reading
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