Final answer:
The Awlad 'Ali prefer parallel cousins as ideal marriage partners to maintain family ties, preserve clan property and power, and strengthen social bonds within the clan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Awlad 'Ali prefer parallel cousins as ideal marriage partners because they value maintaining family ties and preserving their clan's property and power. By marrying within the family, they can ensure that the clan property stays intact and under their control, maximizing their influence and authority. Additionally, marrying parallel cousins allows them to strengthen their social bonds and loyalty within the clan by reinforcing the kinship network.
For example, divorce and remarriage were discouraged in order to prevent the division of clan property. The Awlad 'Ali believed that remarriage and widows marrying again would lead to a dilution of property and power. They also promoted the separation and differentiation of sexes, as well as monogamy, to maintain top-down harmony within the family and clearly establish the ranking of wives.
Furthermore, the Awlad 'Ali considered procreation as a key duty of sons to ensure the continuation of the clan. This emphasis on maintaining kinship ties and preserving property and power influenced their preference for parallel cousins as ideal marriage partners.