Public funding for marriages legitimate under Shariah, says cleric Gumi

Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has asserted that public funds can be legitimately used to facilitate marriages in states that implement Shariah law. He stated that governments have a responsibility to support citizens in need of marriage, especially in societies that prohibit prostitution, fornication, adultery, and promiscuity.

Gumi's defense comes after the Kano State Government organized a mass wedding for 1,500 couples as part of its social intervention program. The initiative, dubbed ‘Auren Gata,’ aims to assist vulnerable couples and alleviate the financial burdens associated with marriage, providing support for newlywed households.

The mass wedding, conducted by the Kano State Hisbah Board, has ignited discussions regarding the allocation of public funds for marriage support programs. Gumi's statement provides a religious and governance perspective on the matter, framing it as a component of responsible leadership within a Shariah-compliant framework.

“

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.