Question Al Ahzab 33:50

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wouterr

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As salamu alaikum,
Lately I have been struggling with verse 33:50 of the holy Quran.

It states that it is permissible for a muslim to marry a first cousin. I recently watched a documentary about genetic issues that are apparently rampant in the British-Pakistani community (Youtube- 'Real Stories'- 'My parents are cousins'). What I understand is that it is scientifically established that there is a good chance of genetical issues in children that have parents that are first cousins. The documentary states:


  • In Bradford 75% of British-Pakistani's marry their first cousins. 4-10% of children of parents that are cousins are born with genetic abnormalities.
  • A major study published in 2008 states that 1/3 of all children in UK born with genetic abnormalities are from the British-Pakistani community. At the same time British-Pakistani only make up for 1,5% of the total British population.

I haven't read that 2008 major study. But I do know, from my own upbringing in the Netherlands, that marriage between cousins is not accepted or atleast frowned upon. And perhaps for good reason. The science seems to speak for itself, even though admittedly I have not read those studies. I don't even know how to ask this question. But how is it possible that the holy Quran permits this practice while it seems detrimental for societies (4-10% of children out of these marriages get genetic issues). I am seriously struggling with this question and I can't find a convincing argument. At the end God know best.

Thank you respectfully.

Wouter
 
Assalamu alaikum,

The Quran permits it, but if you know your family has hereditary genetic disorders, then you simply don't marry.

İt is like food, fish is halal to eat but if you know a certain fish you eat will give you allergies, you avoid it.


Not all cousin marriages cause illness, and sometimes it's needed in a tribal type of society. So it is not forbidden unless you're certain your children could get genetic defects.
 
Thanks for you view. You are right, we still have to use our brains.

But then. The science of genetics is something from the past decades. People that lived 200 years ago couldn't know anything about gene abnormalities. The knowledge was simply not there. But I also read somewhere that 80% of all the marriages before the 1950's where with first or next cousins (irrespective of religion). If it was really such a detrimental practice as is portrayed (for example in the documentary that I saw) people would have stopped doing this.
 

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