Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has defended the use of public funds to support mass marriage programmes, arguing that such spending is legitimate under Islamic law.
Gumi made the position while commenting on government-backed marriage initiatives, insisting that helping young people get married can serve a broader social purpose by strengthening families and discouraging immoral behavior.
According to him, there is a basis in Sharia for authorities to provide financial assistance to people who are unable to afford marriage, particularly where such intervention is aimed at promoting social stability.
“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”, Gumi said.
He argued that governments in Shariah-governed societies have a responsibility to address social challenges arising from the prohibition of sexual relationships outside marriage.
The cleric’s comments come amid debates over the use of public resources to organize and fund weddings-related programmes, particularly in Northern Nigeria. Supporters describe such programmes as social interventions, while critics questioned whether public funds should be for religious or private family matters.
Gumi maintained that marriage is not merely a private affair but an institution with wider implications for society, making support for vulnerable individuals seeking to marry justifiable under Islamic principles.
-9News Nigeria.
