Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has said governments in states operating under Shariah law should use public funds to support marriage arrangements for people who cannot afford them.
Gumi made the call in a post on his Facebook page on Thursday, arguing that governments in Shariah-governed societies have a responsibility to address social challenges arising from the prohibition of sexual relationships outside marriage.
According to the Islamic scholar, government intervention to assist people who lack the financial means to marry should be regarded as part of responsible governance.
He argued that this is particularly important in societies where prostitution, fornication, adultery and promiscuity are prohibited by both religious principles and state laws.
Gumi maintained that public resources could legitimately be deployed to support young people who are in urgent need of marriage, as well as women who have limited opportunities to find suitable spouses.
“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 wrote.