Elaborating on this issue, we’d like to cite the fatwa issued by Sheikh M. S. Al-Munajjid, a prominent Saudi Muslim lecturer and author. He states:

“There is no objection whatsoever in the Islamic religion for a man to marry any of his relatives except those forbidden for marriage whom Allah mentioned in surat an-Nisaa’ (4: 23) Thus, when Allah mentioned for us the relatives to whom marriage is forbidden, we then come to know that there is no objection for the remainder of the family relations.

Question: Is it correct that our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) discouraged marrying cousins? Should marrying cousins be the last resort?

Summary of answer: There is nothing wrong with marriage to cousins in Islam, as cousins are not included in the maharim.

On Wednesday, the Uttar Pradesh police arrested one person named Bilal for raping and abusing his cousin in the public. He also took incriminating videos of his cousin and also used them to blackmail her to force her to marry him. A case has been registered against the accused under sections 376, 323, 504, and 386 of the Indian Penal Code.

According to the reports, the Police arrested the accused named Bilal based on the complaint filed by the victim girl. The incident is said to have happened in the Pratap Vihar area of Ghaziabad on August 29 when the accused forcefully took the victim to a restaurant and physically abused her. He also shot the video and threatened her to marry him. The video of the incident went viral over social media in which the accused can be seen hitting the victim and threatening her.

The police confirmed the incident and said that a case had been filed against the accused. “We were informed about the incident on September 6 evening after which the Police immediately took action against Bilal. He has been arrested and other legal proceedings are being implemented”, the Police added.

The victim girl who is a resident of the Pratap Vihar area in Ghaziabad mentioned in the complaint that the accused is her maternal sibling and is already married. “He is the resident of the Kaila Kheda area and has been frequently visiting our house for the past four years”, she said adding that she stays at home with her ill mother and three working brothers.

The victim girl noted that Bilal on August 29 forcefully took her to a restaurant and abused her. He also forced her to accept his proposal and marry him. “On August 29, I was going to the market to fetch medicine for my ill mother. Bilal arrived on his bike and blocked my way. Later he took me to a restaurant in Pratap Vihar and pressured me into marriage. He is already married and I had refused his proposal long back. He then began hitting me and shot the incident which went viral over social media”, the victim stated.

The complaint was filed by the victim girl on September 6 after which the Ghaziabad Police took immediate action against the accused identified as Bilal. The Police have arrested the accused and have booked him under the relevant sections of the IPC. Further investigations and legal proceedings in the case are underway.

Ruling on marrying cousins

Can you marry your cousin?

There is no objection whatsoever in the Islamic religion for a man to marry any of his relatives except al-maharim (those forbidden for marriage ) whom Allah mentioned in Surat Al-Nisa, 4:23 (interpretation of the meaning):

“Prohibited to you (for marriage) are: your mothers, daughters, sisters; father's sisters, mother's sisters; brother's daughters, sister's daughters; foster-mothers (who breast-fed you), foster-sisters (who breast-fed from the same woman as you); your wives' mothers; your step-daughters under your guardianship, born of your wives with whom you have consummated marriage, no prohibition if ye have not consummated; (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.”

Thus, when Allah mentioned for us the relatives to whom marriage is forbidden, we then come to know that there is no objection for the remainder of the family relations. 

Should marrying cousins be the last resort?

Furthermore, there is no condition that it be the last resort as indicated in the question. Among the most prominent evidence of this fact is that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) married his daughter Fatimah to ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with them) and he is the son of her father's uncle, as well as the marriage of the Prophet himself to Zainab bint Jahsh (may Allah be pleased with her) and she is his aunt's daughter (i.e. his cousin); and there are many other such examples.

However, a different question may be asked, namely: "Is it better or preferable for a Muslim to marry someone he is not related to rather than a relative?"

The answer to this question varies from case to case, and perhaps it may be preferable to marry people who are non-relations, for example, if one aspires to form new social ties or bonds, and regards the existence of a marriage relationship with a different family as constructive in widening the circle of social bonds.

For more about marriage to cousins in Islam, please see these answers: 98931 , 222086 , 12335 , and 5240

And Allah knows best.

References: 

opindia.com