Controversial Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has backed government-sponsored marriage programmes in states operating under Shariah law.
Gumi noted that the use of public funds for such initiatives can be justified as part of responsible governance.
He made his position known in a statement on Thursday.
Gumi argued that governments in societies where sexual relationships outside marriage are prohibited have a duty to assist individuals who cannot afford to get married.
“In a Shariah law-driven state, where prostitution, fornication, adultery, and promiscuity are prohibited by both divine and state laws, using public funds to facilitate the marriage of women who are in excess of the available pool of eligible men, or of any young person in dire need of marriage, is a legitimate and responsible component of good governance,” he said.
Meanwhile, his remark is coming following the recent mass wedding organised by the Kano State Government for 1,500 couples under its ‘Auren Gata’ programme.
The ceremony was organised through the Kano State Hisbah Board as part of the government’s social intervention efforts aimed at assisting vulnerable people who face financial difficulties in establishing families.
The programme is designed to reduce the financial pressure associated with marriage and provide support that would enable beneficiaries to commence their married lives with greater economic stability.
The Kano mass wedding, which took place last Friday, has sparked debate over whether government resources should be committed to marriage-related social interventions.
Gumi, however, maintained that such spending could be considered appropriate in a Shariah-based system where the state has outlawed practices regarded as alternatives to lawful marriage.
