Can my cousin see me without hijab?

Why cousins aren't mahram

A mahram is a man you can never marry. Cousins don't fall into that group. The Quran even mentions cousins as permitted marriage partners when it speaks to the Prophet ﷺ:

Since marriage between cousins is lawful, a male cousin is treated like any other non-mahram man for hijab. Your uncles (your parents' brothers) are different: they are mahram. For the full list, see Who can see me without my hijab?

The cousin you grew up with

This is often the hardest one for converts. You may have played with your cousin as a child and seen each other at every birthday. It can feel strange to suddenly cover in front of him. But hijab isn't a judgment about him. It's a rule about which relatives are mahram, and it applies to every Muslim woman, not just you. The Prophet ﷺ was especially cautious about close relatives who aren't mahram, saying "The in-law is death" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5232), because families tend to relax the rules with them.

What about female cousins?

Female cousins can see you without hijab, just like other women. Muslim scholars generally allow women to uncover in front of other women, with some extra caution around non-Muslim women in a few views. So a girls' sleepover with your cousins is fine.

Family gatherings in practice

• Wear your hijab at family events where male cousins are present.
• Greet with a warm smile and words rather than hugs or kisses. See Can I hug my relatives at holiday gatherings as a Muslim?
• If someone asks why, a short, friendly answer works best. See How do I handle questions about Islam at family dinners?
• Milk relations count: if you and a cousin were breastfed by the same woman as babies, ask a scholar whether the conditions were met.