“Marry not those women whom your fathers married- except what is already past: It was shameful and odious- an abominable custom indeed” (4:22), Quran.
“Marry not those women whom your fathers married- except
what is already past: It was shameful and odious- an abominable custom indeed” (4:22), Quran.
The
CUI has informed the Ministry of Science and Technology that they have taken
action and terminated the services of the faculty member who had asked a highly
objectionable question in the English composition exam. A letter dated February
2nd states that the Lecturer (visiting faculty) was dismissed on January 5th
and blacklisted. When contacted, Additional Registrar Naveed Ahmed Khan
confirmed that the quiz was then retaken. The faculty member suspected that
this decision was made only after the ministry took notice of the incident,
however, the additional registrar clarified that the faculty member was let go
before the ministry took notice on January 19th. The reply was then submitted
to the ministry on February 2nd. The incident caused much shame and exposed the
examination system of the university. It raised the question as to why the
examination department and concerned faculty had not noticed the highly
inappropriate question.
Incest
has been a taboo in multiple cultures and religions for centuries, and Islam
and Christianity are no exception. Both the Quran and the Bible explicitly
prohibit incestuous relationships, and this prohibition is seen as a clear
moral standard for believers of both faiths.
In
the Quran, it is
stated that “do not go near to adultery: for it is an indecent (deed) and an
evil way” (17:32). This verse, which forbids all kinds of illicit sexual
relationships, including incest, clearly states that such relationships are
wrong. Additionally, the Quran also states that “marry not those women
whom your fathers married- except what is already past: It was shameful and
odious- an abominable custom indeed” (4:22). This particular verse is a
clear condemnation of incest, as it clearly states that marriage between close
relatives, especially those related by blood, is wrong and should not be
practiced.
The
Bible also explicitly
forbids incestuous relationships. In Leviticus 18:6, it is stated that “none of
you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their
nakedness”. This verse clearly states that sexual relations, even with close
relatives, are prohibited. Additionally, in Leviticus 18:9, it states that “none
of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their
nakedness”. This further reinforces the idea that such relationships
are wrong and should not be engaged in.
It
is clear that both Islam and Christianity share a common view that incestuous
relationships are wrong, and should not be practiced. This prohibition is seen
as a clear moral standard for believers of both faiths, and is seen as an
important part of maintaining the sanctity of marriage and family. Furthermore,
it is important to note that both religions share a common understanding of the
importance of protecting the health of family members, and the importance of
respecting the sanctity of marriage. As such, incestuous relationships are seen
as wrong and immoral, and should be avoided.
Genetic
flaws that Can Arise from Incest
Almost
every culture in the world considers incest to be taboo, yet it was once a
fairly common practice among royals who wanted to keep their bloodlines pure.
Egyptian rulers, in particular, often married their siblings or even their own
children, and this provided an example of the serious genetic mutations that
can come from incestuous relationships. But how does incest lead to genetic
problems? Even if there's not a mutation, the two individuals involved have
similar genes, meaning any recessive abnormalities can be more easily passed
down to the children and expressed more visibly. Even if the parents don't show
signs of genetic issues, their child may still have them due to incest. It's
important to note that these traits and mutations don't only occur from incest,
though they can happen more frequently because of it. If you're curious as to
how incest affects genes or what inbred people look like, here are some of the
genetic mutations and recessive genes that arise from incest. There are 13
genetic disorders caused by incent nexuses, however, a few of them are given
below.
The
Habsburg Jaw:
The
Habsburg Jaw, also known as prognathism, is a genetic disorder that has been
linked to noble families. From the mid-1400s to mid-1700s, the Spanish House of
Habsburg was in power, and during that time, a great deal of inbreeding
occurred due to marriages between close relatives to protect their interests.
This led to their offspring developing lower jaws that stuck out and had severe
under-bites. A famous example of this is Charles II of Spain, who had such a
pronounced under bite that he could not speak properly, could not chew, and had
a problem with drooling. He also had cognitive disabilities, learning to talk
at the age of 4 and to walk at the age of 8. Even today, some people in the
Habsburg family have slight variations of this disorder, showing the
long-lasting effects of genetic mutations caused by inbreeding.
Microcephaly:
In
Pakistan, it is still socially acceptable for people to marry their close blood
relatives, such as first cousins, and the consequences of this practice are
becoming more apparent. In 1998, a study reported that 63% of Pakistanis
practice consanguineous marriage, which has led to an increase in a birth
defect called microcephaly. This is a condition where a baby is born with a
significantly smaller than normal head, resulting in underdeveloped brains and
the possibility of mental disabilities. This genetic anomaly is found in 1 out
of every 10,000 Pakistanis, whereas it is only present in 1 in 1,000,000 people
in other parts of the world.
Clubfoot:
King
Tut is yet another example of the potential genetic effects of incest. He was
found to have a form of club foot, which is a range of foot abnormalities
caused by shortened tendons that prevent the foot from resting flat. These
conditions are present at birth, and while they are not only caused by incest,
close genetic linkages between parents can increase the risk.
Immune
System Disorders:
Children
born from incestuous relationships often suffer from poor health due to a
weakened immune system. This is likely due to the reduced variety of alleles
that are present within the immune system, making it more vulnerable to
disease. Historically, it has been shown that incestuous pairings do not lead
to a healthy immune system as it does not provide the necessary genetic diversity.
For a strong immune system, our DNA requires a wide range of unique alleles to
be able to effectively combat disease.
What
is to be done?
It
is essential for COMSATS University Islamabad to investigate who was
responsible for the presence of such highly objectionable material being taught
on their premises and take necessary steps to prevent similar incidents from
recurring. Furthermore, Islam and Christianity strongly discourage any form of
incestuous relationship, as it is seen as a violation of the moral code set by
both faiths. The preservation of marriage and family, as well as protecting
family members from health risks, are the main reasons why incestuous
relationships are not condoned.
Therefore,
people should be educated on the importance of respecting the sanctity of
marriage and avoiding such behavior. To do this, religious education in schools
can be used to raise awareness and instill a sense of morality. Additionally,
public service announcements and educational campaigns can be used to spread
awareness. Lastly, religious leaders and organizations can offer further
guidance and information on why this type of behavior should be avoided.
More
reading on this:
Give me
references on the above:
1.
"Incest: What it is, its Effects, and why it is Prohibited."
Al-Islam.org,
https://www.al-islam.org/incest-what-it-its-effects-and-why-it-prohibited.
2.
"Incest." The National Society of Genetic Counselors,
https://www.nsgc.org/for-consumers/incest.
3.
"Incest and Genetics." Genetics Home Reference, U.S. National Library
of Medicine, https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/inheritance/incest.
4.
"Inbreeding and Genetic Diversity." Broom's Barn,
https://www.broomswood.co.uk/inbreeding-genetic-diversity.
5.
"The Genetic Effects of Inbreeding." The Human Genome Project
Information,
https://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/inbreeding.shtml.
Sarah Yousafzai:
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