Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Dear Brother

As salamu alikum. According to Islam who we can marry among relatives? Does Islam allow marrying cousin from mother or fathers’ side? May Allah reward for your great effort.

Allah Hafez.

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Answer:

Can one marry cousins

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 23:

23 Prohibited to you (for marriage) are: your mother, daughters, sisters, father's sisters, mother's sisters, brother's daughters, sister's daughters, foster-mothers (who gave you suck), foster-sisters, your wives' mothers, your step-daughters under your guardianship born of your wives to whom ye have gone in, no prohibition if ye have not gone in; (those who have been) wives of your sons proceeding from your loins, and two sisters in wedlock at one and the same time except for what is past; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.

Your Question: According to Islam who we can marry among relatives?

The list of ‘mehram’ relatives or relatives to whom marriage is ‘haraam’ or absolutely forbidden in Islam are as follows:

1. One’s mother, grand-mother, etc.
2. One’s daughters
3. One’s sisters
4. One’s father’s sisters (paternal aunts)
5. One’s mother’s sisters (maternal aunts)
6. One’s brother’s daughters (niece)
7. One’s sister’s daughters (niece)
8. One’s foster mother (a lady who gave suck to one as an infant)
9. One’s foster sisters (a boy and a girl who took suck from the same woman)
10. One’s wife’s mother
11. step-daughter (the daughter of one’s wife with whom one has had conjugal relations)
12. one’s son’s wife
13. Islam has also prohibited the believers from marrying one’s wife’s sister, or having two sisters as wives at one and the same time.

Your Question: Does Islam allow marrying cousin from mother or fathers’ side?

Dear and Beloved brother in Islam, cousins (whether of they are maternal or paternal cousins) are not ‘mehrams’ or amongst those relations whom the All-Knowing, All-Wise Lord has forbidden to be sought in marriage; thus marrying one’s cousins is absolutely permissible in Islam, if one wishes to do so.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan