Some media outlets discourage marriage between relatives, claiming that most disabled people are the result of such marriages. Do you have any guidance on this?
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The questioner:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. Shaykh Salih, some media outlets are averse to marriage with relatives and cite evidence for this, claiming that most disabled people, or rather, that eighty percent of disabled people, are the result of marriage between relatives. I do not know what lies behind this. Shaykh Salih, perhaps you have some guidance. May Allah preserve you.
The Shaykh:
This is a false claim, and there is no objection to marriage between relatives. People are divided into two extremes on this matter: some, as mentioned, are forced to marry relatives, while others are averse to marrying relatives. The truth and the moderate position is that if both spouses are suitable for each other in their religion, character, and conduct, then the marriage will be successful, if Allah wills, without regard to whether they are relatives or not. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 1967Da'if (Darussalam) Musannaf Abd al-Razzaq 16:73 This is regarding the choice of a husband. Regarding the choice of a wife, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan Ibn Majah 1858Sahih (Darussalam). Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. What did they mention regarding disability, Shaykh Salih?
The Shaykh:
And marriage between relatives.
The presenter:
Yes, yes.
The Shaykh:
It is a well-known aspect of the biography of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The presenter:
O Allah, send prayers upon him.
The Shaykh:
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was married to some of his female relatives from his tribe and clan.
The presenter:
O Allah, send blessings upon him.
The Shaykh:
He also married his daughter to her cousin, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them both), 'Ali and Fatimah, the daughter of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The presenter:
O Allah, send blessings upon him.
The Shaykh:
His wife was his cousin, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) married their close relatives. So if there were any religious concern in this matter, they would have avoided it, as it is said:[Al-Ahzab 33:50]. These are his close relatives, peace and blessings be upon him.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you with good. And what did he mention regarding disability, Shaykh Salih?
The Shaykh:
This has no basis. What they mentioned regarding disability has no basis. Whoever relies on Allah and depends on Allah, He is the One who holds the matter in His hand, and He is the Creator, so the Muslim relies on his Lord.
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. Shaykh Salih, some media outlets are averse to marriage with relatives and cite evidence for this, claiming that most disabled people, or rather, that eighty percent of disabled people, are the result of marriage between relatives. I do not know what lies behind this. Shaykh Salih, perhaps you have some guidance. May Allah preserve you.
The Shaykh:
This is a false claim, and there is no objection to marriage between relatives. People are divided into two extremes on this matter: some, as mentioned, are forced to marry relatives, while others are averse to marrying relatives. The truth and the moderate position is that if both spouses are suitable for each other in their religion, character, and conduct, then the marriage will be successful, if Allah wills, without regard to whether they are relatives or not. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
If there comes to you one with whose
إذا أتاكم من ترضون دينهand whose character you are pleased with, marry him. If you do not, there will be fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) in the land and great corruption.
وخلقه فزوجوه إلا تفعل تكن فتنة في الأرض وفساد كبيرMarry al-Walid, al-Walid, for I am a disbeliever of the nations on the Day of Resurrection.
تزوج الوليد الوليد فإني لكافر بكم الأمم يوم القيامة،Choose the religious, may your hands be rubbed with dust (i.e., may you prosper).
اظْفَرْ بِذَاتِ الدِّينِ تَرِبَتْ يَدَاكَThe presenter:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. What did they mention regarding disability, Shaykh Salih?
The Shaykh:
And marriage between relatives.
The presenter:
Yes, yes.
The Shaykh:
It is a well-known aspect of the biography of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The presenter:
O Allah, send prayers upon him.
The Shaykh:
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) was married to some of his female relatives from his tribe and clan.
The presenter:
O Allah, send blessings upon him.
The Shaykh:
He also married his daughter to her cousin, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with them both), 'Ali and Fatimah, the daughter of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
The presenter:
O Allah, send blessings upon him.
The Shaykh:
His wife was his cousin, and the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) married their close relatives. So if there were any religious concern in this matter, they would have avoided it, as it is said:
your wives to whom you have given their due compensation and those your right hand possesses from what Allah has returned to you [of captives] and the daughters of your paternal uncles and the daughters of your paternal aunts and the daughters of your maternal uncles and the daughters of your maternal aunts who emigrated with you
أَزْوَاجَكَ اللَّاتِي آتَيْتَ أُجُورَهُنَّ وَمَا مَلَكَتْ يَمِينُكَ مِمَّا أَفَاءَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمِّكَ وَبَنَاتِ عَمَّاتِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالِكَ وَبَنَاتِ خَالَاتِكَ اللَّاتِي هَاجَرْنَ مَعَكَThe presenter:
May Allah reward you with good. And what did he mention regarding disability, Shaykh Salih?
The Shaykh:
This has no basis. What they mentioned regarding disability has no basis. Whoever relies on Allah and depends on Allah, He is the One who holds the matter in His hand, and He is the Creator, so the Muslim relies on his Lord.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، بعض وسائل الإعلام تنفر من زواج الأقارب، ويقولون إن أغلب المعاقين كلهم من زواج الأقارب،لعل لكم توجيه؟ — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.