Conjoined Twins and Marriage: Challenges and Solutions from an Islamic Jurisprudential Perspective

Conjoined twins are considered one of the categories of extraordinary individuals who differ from others in many legal areas, including marriage. In this case, two physically connected bodies may pertain to two independent personalities, or they may belong to a single personality where some body parts are considered superfluous. In the context of marriage, the status of the twins regarding plurality or unity significantly influences the ruling. Given the lack of examination of this issue by researchers and the necessity for its fiqhi analysis, this study employs a descriptive-analytical method to explore the topic. The findings indicate that, in the case of a singular conjoined twin, marriage does not face any specific prohibitions; in other words, the unique physical condition of this type of twin does not constitute an obstacle to the legitimacy of marriage. Conversely, in cases of multiple personalities, although the specific condition of the conjoined twin introduces prohibitive concerns, marriage is deemed permissible according to necessity, provided that the relevant legal principles are adhered to. Ultimately, in the case of another type of twin, namely the ambiguous twin, their physical condition poses numerous prohibitive concerns, categorizing them among individuals excused from sexual relations. Thus, the legitimacy of marriage for them is contingent upon the absence of sexual intercourse.