Marrying One’s Second Cousin

Question

My brother met a lady and they are interested in each other. However, it came to light that the lady is the daughter of an estranged cousin on the maternal side. Her daughter is now very unhappy because of the family connection. I am sure that I know what the answer is based on Surah An-Nisa as well as in the history of our Beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW and the Companions R.A, but I prefer my Seniors respond to him. Both of them are aged, their children now grown, and this is an opportunity for them to find companionship. Neither of the two are married at this point. Please be so kind as to give a fatwa I can hand to my brother.

Darul Ifta, Madrasah Urwah bin Az-Zubayr · Accepted Answer

As salām ʿalaikum wa raḥmatullāhī wa barakātuhu

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

We commend you for your concern in guiding others towards what is correct according to Sharīʿah, and for seeking clarification in matters where there may be uncertainty. It is permissible for an individual to marry their direct cousin or second cousin.

Consider the relatives mentioned in the following verse of Sūrah an-Nisā’:

حُرِّمَتۡ عَلَيۡكُمۡ أُمَّهَٰتُكُمۡ وَبَنَاتُكُمۡ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُمۡ وَعَمَّٰتُكُمۡ وَخَٰلَٰتُكُمۡ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلۡأَخِ وَبَنَاتُ ٱلۡأُخۡتِ وَأُمَّهَٰتُكُمُ ٱلَّٰتِيٓ أَرۡضَعۡنَكُمۡ وَأَخَوَٰتُكُم مِّنَ ٱلرَّضَٰعَةِ وَأُمَّهَٰتُ نِسَآئِكُمۡ وَرَبَٰٓئِبُكُمُ ٱلَّٰتِي فِي حُجُورِكُم مِّن نِّسَآئِكُمُ ٱلَّٰتِي دَخَلۡتُم بِهِنَّ فَإِن لَّمۡ تَكُونُواْ دَخَلۡتُم بِهِنَّ فَلَا جُنَاحَ عَلَيۡكُمۡ وَحَلَٰٓئِلُ أَبۡنَآئِكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِنۡ أَصۡلَٰبِكُمۡ وَأَن تَجۡمَعُواْ بَيۡنَ ٱلۡأُخۡتَيۡنِ إِلَّا مَا قَدۡ سَلَفَۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورا رَّحِيما (23)

Translation: Prohibited for you are your mothers, your daughters, your sisters, your paternal aunts, your maternal aunts, daughters of brothers (nieces), daughters of sisters (nieces), your foster mothers, your foster sisters, mothers of your wives, and your step-daughters under your care who are born from your women with whom you have had intercourse – But if you have not had intercourse with them, then there is no sin upon you. And the wives of your sons from your loins, and that you combine two sisters in wedlock except what has passed (during the days of ignorance). Surely Allāh is Most-forgiving, Most-merciful.

From this verse, it is clear that paternal cousins or maternal cousins are not included among the prohibited relatives. Furthermore, the Holy Prophet ﷺ himself married his first cousin Zaynab bint Jaḥsh (Raḍiyallāhu ʿAnhā) who was the daughter of his paternal aunt.

The Holy Prophet ﷺ’s daughter Fāṭimah (Raḍiyallāhu ʿAnhā) was married to Haḍrat ʿAlī t who was the first cousin of The Holy Prophet ﷺ.

And Allāh Taʿālā knows best.

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