Don’t restrict yourself in marrying only from your clan

An evil trend among some who claim to be from Banu Hashim (the Prophet’s family) is that they do not get married outside their clan, nor do they allow anyone else to get married into their clan. They say there is no compatibility between them and other people.
This is a great error; ignorance; oppression against women; and a legislation that Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) have not prescribed. Instead, Allah said:

“O mankind! We have created you from a male and female, and have made you into nations and tribes; that you may know one another, Indeed the most noblest of you with Allah is the one who has the most taqwaa (piety, fear, and obedience of Allah).” (Qur’an, 49:13)

“Indeed the Believers are but brothers.” (Qur’an, 49:10)

“The Believers – men and women – are allies and protectors, one to another.” (Qur’an, 9:71)

Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said: “Indeed there is no excellence for an Arab over a non-Arab, nor for a non-Arab over on Arab, nor for a white person over a black one, nor for a black person over a white one, except through taqwa (piety). People are from Adam, and Adam was from dust.” Ahmad (5/411)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said: “Indeed my Awliya (friends and allies) are not the tribe of so and so. Rather my friends and allies are the pious – wherever they may be.” (Al-Bukhari, 10/351 and Muslim, no. 215) The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If there comes to you a person whose Religion and character are pleasing to you, then marry him (i.e. give the girl in marriage to him). If you do not do this, there will be Fitnah (trial and discord) and greet fasad (corruption) upon the earth.” (Al-Tirmidhi, no.1085)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) married Zainab Bint Jahsh of the Quraish (i.e. the Prophet’s clan) to Zaid Bin Haarithah, his freed slave. He married Fatimah Bint Qays from the Quraish clan, to Usamah, the son of Zaid. Bilal Bin Rabah, the Ethiopian, married the sister of Abdul Rahman Bin Awf of the Quraish.

The claim that marrying outside the clan or tribe is forbidden or detested is false. The religion should be the main compatibility factor. The Prophet (peace be upon him) distanced from Abu Talib and Abu Lahab (his uncles) because they were not Muslims but drew near Salman the Persian, Suhaib the Roman, and Bilal the Ethiopian because they possessed Iman (faith) and piety.

Whoever adopts this false and ignorant practice of barring Hashimi women from marrying from outside their clan or tribe will only achieve faulty results – such as corruption of the people or adversely affecting the birthrates.

O Muslims! Fear Allah with regard to yourselves and the daughters, sisters, and other women whom Allah has been placed under your charge and authority. Realize what is good and what brings happiness to the society. Remember that you will all be questioned and held to account about your actions, as Allah said:

“By your Lord! We shall call them all to account for all that they used to do.” (Qur’an, 15:92)


– By Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz
Majmoo Fatawa (3/100-103)