Marrying one's first cousin

Q: I'm really worried and need advice on the matter of first cousin marriages.

1. What is the Islamic view on the matter? Should I be worried about the research online which says the chances of having a kid born with some kind of disability increases with first cousin marriages.

2. Could you please give me famous examples, specifically of first cousin marriages in Islam. Did Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) marry his first cousin? Was Ali's (radhiyallahu anhu) marriage with Fatima his first cousin?

A:

1. It is permissible.

2. Hadhrat Zainub bint Jahsh (radhiyallahu anha) was the cousin of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)