Muslim wives legally invisible

This is a huge issue. I work in developmental paediatrics, and over the 20 years the profile of children we see has massively changed. There is now many more genetic abnormalities likely due to inter marriage, at least half our caseload I would estimate, and 90% of these are from an Islamic background. This is devastating for the families and children involved, and also places a huge strain on the nhs, special schools, housing. We have many families where they have had multiple children with complex needs due to genetics.

As a muslim female myself, it is known that a nikkah is a religious marriage ceremony, not legal. Previously years back it was not widely known but now with the internet, its easy to check. I know lots of Muslim couples who have had a registery alongside the nikkah and some who just can’t be bothered with the legal ceremony. Ultimately its up to the individual to ensure they are legally protected.

The law doesn’t and shouldn’t allow for “second” wives.
If men decide to have an affair that’s on them. Our legal system will never legitimise polygamy and neither should it.

What do you mean by a “slightly different pathway of care”?

Does that result in many abortions or are a far higher number of the live births suffering from congenital abnormalities?

As infant mortality alone is thought to be around 12% this may be quite high (and costly).

From the article also linked in my previous list:

The Children born of cousin marriages face an increased risk of genetic disorders and childhood mortality[2][3] and are thus prohibited in some countries.[4][5] One study estimated infant mortality at 12.7 percent for married double first cousins, 7.9 percent for first cousins, 9.2 percent for first cousins once removed/double second cousins, 6.9 percent for second cousins, and 5.1 percent among non-consanguineous progeny. Among double first cousin progeny, 41.2 percent of pre-reproductive deaths were associated with the expression of detrimental recessive genes, with equivalent values of 26.0, 14.9, and 8.1 percent for first cousins, first cousins once removed/double second cousins, and second cousins respectively.

wikiislam.net/wiki/Cousin_Marriage_in_Islamic_Law

I was just about to ask how this would work among communities or relgions that allow men to have multiple wives (Islam allows up to four, I believe although the caveat is that the husband has to be able to support all of them.)
I am not sure of the legality of this under British or Scottish law at present, meaning second or subsequent wives probably have no protection even if the first one does. So that would have to be changed too.
Incidentally does Sharia law allow for all wives and children to inherit (or be entitled to) some of the late husband's estate?

Yeah, her money is hers.
And his money is his and hers.
And the quran stipulates hers and the children's entitlement in both divorce and the passing away of a spouse.

Sounds nice.
Like your name BTW

I have a Muslim friend (female) who has been married 3 times
She fully understands and chooses the Nikah only ceremony as it is easier to end the marriage and protects her personal wealth

Personally I think first-cousin marriage should be banned in the same way sibling and uncle/niece marriages are banned.

Yes, that unfortunately does happen.
Married to a woman in the uk and has another "secret wife" back in Bangladesh for example.

Shouldn't be done.
If you are going to do co wife at least do it how the quran tells you. And if you can't be fair and just then just divorce and be on your bloody own.

As I said, I may have misconstrued Sharia Law. I shall watch the programme with interest in order to understand better.

No need to apologise, friend 🌸

Yes, I hate the term : Marriage is just a piece of paper.

To me, its a serious commitment between man and woman who love one another.

Mormons have many wives..
People of the bible even had 100s of wives.

The quran says have more than 1 wife if you are able to. But there's a tonne of rules. Also, a woman has the right to say at the wedding she wishes not to be a co wife and the man has to accept that. She can put that in the marriage contract and she can also say how much money she wants in a dowry.
In islam, a man can have a 2nd wife on the grounds of, it's not secret, they know of one another, you provide for both equally and spend equal time with them.

A friend of mine is a 2nd wife, she said it was tough at first but she said they got used to each other and now get along and all childrenplay together. They all live in the same household though and it is advised to have separate households for both. However, not all muslim men/women do this. A lot of people are happy with just one wife.

Apologies, I should have made it clear. I wasn’t referring to the OP situation, I was talking about people in general who say “Marriage is just a piece of paper”. People from all religions, backgrounds and everything in between. Some people still believe the term ‘common law wife’ and it’s only when something happens that they realise how important a marriage certificate can be.

Nothing is stopping the Muslim couple from getting their marriage registered in a civil ceremony.

We are in the UK, and our laws should prevail. I don’t want Sharia Law given any legal standing here.

But I agree, although it’s the job of individuals and the community to be aware of the legal status of their practices, it would be sensible to cover this in PSHE lessons along with the rights and responsibilities of marriage in general.

Totally agree with you, it should be taught in schools. I also think the benifits of marriage/civil partnership legally and financially would benefit everyone. A lot of ppl who are living with a partner long term do not realise how things can go wrong when a partner is injured or passed away. I do believe more ppl would get married if they knew the protections it offered, especially if they have children.

Yes, that does happen now.
When I was registering my last baby born in 2023, in the waiting area of rhe registrynoffice there was a poster that said, if you have done a nikah marriage at the mosque, please ensure you do a legal registry wedding too, to be registered in the uk.

Some mosques are happy to conduct an Islamic wedding on its own. In the eyes of God, its the only marriage that is valid/necessary. If you wish to go ahead and do a registry office so youre recognised as a wife in British law you are free to do so but a lot dont. They're happy with a wedding at the mosque and see a religious wedding as suffice.

https://www.culs.org.uk/per-incuriam/nikah-marriages-and-their-impact-on-muslim-women

Yes maybe, I haven’t been to a catholic wedding for about 10 years! After that we haven’t had any friends getting married. All the catholic priests we spoke to for our wedding could do a legal ceremony but that was probably just coincidence (pretty wedding worth venues!)

But yes, most churches I’ve visited in the last few years have had big problems getting priests.

At midwife booking appointments they all have to ask as well as part of the questions on the NHS system, are you and your husband cousins?

We mention consanguinity at booking and tell people that we offer a slightly different pathway of care where it is relevant to screen for congenital abnormalities.

Well, if shes Muslim and the husband Muslim,it doesn't matter how she plans the funeral. After all, there's only one way to conduct an Islamic burial.

The men will wash his body in the mosque and then he will be wrapped in a white sheet style cloth and buried in the ground whilst everyone does a prayer for him to be granted heaven and be forgiven for any errors or sins he has made. And that's it. There's no arranging songs or ordering a fancy casket or choosing a cremation plot and urn. It's called a janazah.

Some Muslims have 2 weddings
Nikah & UK wedding
Some Muslims have more than 1 wife