Islamic marriage law prohibits certain unions because of close kinship, existing marital bonds, or religious and legal conditions. The Qur’an gives a detailed list of prohibited close relatives in 4:22–24. Some internet lists contain errors, such as claiming that cousins cannot marry or that a wedding cannot occur because a woman is menstruating.
Close relatives
The Qur’an prohibits marriage with mothers, daughters, sisters, paternal and maternal aunts, nieces, foster mothers and foster sisters through recognized milk kinship, mothers-in-law, and certain stepdaughters and daughters-in-law.
First cousins are not included in this Qur’anic list and cousin marriage has historically been permitted in Islamic law.
Existing marriage bonds
A person cannot simply marry someone already bound by a valid marriage where Islamic law recognizes that bond. Islamic jurisprudence also regulates waiting periods after divorce or widowhood before a new marriage.
Rules differ in detail across legal schools and modern national family laws.
Interfaith marriage
Classical Sunni and Shia jurisprudence generally permits a Muslim man to marry a chaste Jewish or Christian woman under specified conditions, drawing on Qur’an 5:5. Traditional Islamic law generally does not permit a Muslim woman to marry a non-Muslim man.
Modern Muslims debate these rules, and civil law can differ from classical jurisprudence.
Consent and coercion
Marriage requires a valid contract and consent. Forced marriage should be distinguished from family-arranged marriage in which the spouses genuinely consent.
Age, guardianship, witnesses, registration, and contract rules vary across schools and countries.
Important correction
Islamic marriage rules are more precise than a generic list of forbidden behavior. Questions about a real marriage should be checked against the relevant legal school and local civil law.
