Why Gov’t Has To Fund Mass Weddings In Sharia States With Public Money – Sheikh Gumi

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has said governments operating under Shariah law have a responsibility to use public funds to support marriage arrangements for citizens who cannot afford to get married.

Gumi made the submission in a post on his Facebook page on Thursday, arguing that government assistance for marriage was part of responsible governance in societies where sexual relationships outside marriage were prohibited.

The Islamic scholar said the government had a duty to address social challenges arising from the prohibition of prostitution, fornication, adultery and other forms of sexual relationships outside marriage.

According to him, public resources could legitimately be used to assist young people who were in urgent need of marriage, as well as women who might have difficulty finding suitable spouses.

Gumi said governments in Shariah-governed societies should consider marriage support as part of their responsibility to address social needs.

He wrote, “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 argued that government intervention could help reduce social problems associated with people being unable to marry because of financial difficulties.

The cleric’s position comes amid growing government-backed mass wedding programmes in some northern states.

Kano Approves ₦1.5bn For Mass Wedding

Gumi’s comment came days after the Kano State Government approved ₦1.5bn for a mass wedding programme involving 3,000 beneficiaries.

The Commander-General of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Sheikh Ibrahim Daurawa, disclosed the approval while briefing journalists on preparations for the programme.

Daurawa said the money would cover several aspects of the wedding arrangements, including furniture, food items, dowries and clothing materials for the couples.

He added that each bride would also receive ₦100,000 as capital to enable her to start a small business after the wedding.

“The Kano State Government is to spend ₦1.5bn on the entire mass wedding programme which will soon be conducted in the state,” Daurawa said.

According to him, the programme was designed to assist young people who might otherwise struggle to get married because of the high cost of marriage ceremonies and other related expenses.

5,000 applicants seek assistance

Daurawa disclosed that about 5,000 people had applied to participate in the mass wedding programme.

He said only 3,000 applicants would eventually be selected after completing the required medical screening.

The screening, he explained, was being conducted by the Hisbah Board in collaboration with the Kano State Ministry of Health.

“The mandatory medical screening is for hepatitis, pregnancy, HIV, genotype as well as other sexually transmitted diseases,” he said.

The exercise is aimed at ensuring that prospective couples are medically screened before the wedding.

Daurawa also commended Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for initiating the programme, saying the governor would announce the date for the mass wedding.

The development has renewed discussions over the role of government in supporting marriage, particularly in states where Islamic laws influence public policy.

Supporters of such programmes argue that financial assistance can help young people overcome the rising cost of marriage and reduce social problems associated with prolonged inability to marry.

Gumi’s argument also places the issue within the wider context of governance under Shariah law, where governments are expected to provide an environment that supports citizens in meeting basic social and religious obligations.

The Kano mass wedding programme reportedly covers applicants from different parts of the state, with medical screening having commenced for prospective couples.

The scheme is expected to provide financial and material support to selected beneficiaries as they begin married life.