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 to marry.
Gumi made the position known in a post on his Facebook page on Thursday, arguing that government assistance with marriage was part of its responsibility in a society where sexual relationships outside marriage were prohibited.
The Islamic scholar said governments had a duty to address the social needs created by the enforcement of religious and state laws against prostitution, fornication, adultery and promiscuity.
According to him, where people are prevented by law and religious rules from engaging in sexual relationships outside marriage, the government should also take steps to make lawful marriage easier for those who cannot afford it.
Gumi said 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 husbands.
“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.
His comments have drawn attention to the question of how governments in Shariah-governed societies should respond to social and economic challenges linked to marriage.
Marriage is an important institution in Islam, and Islamic teachings generally encourage lawful marriage while prohibiting sexual relations outside it. However, the high cost of marriage has remained a concern for many young Nigerians, particularly those struggling with unemployment, low incomes and rising living costs.
In many parts of northern Nigeria, families often incur significant expenses during marriage ceremonies, including payments associated with bride price, accommodation, clothing, food and other social obligations. These financial demands have sometimes been identified as factors that make marriage difficult for young people.
Gumi’s proposal therefore places the responsibility not only on individuals and families but also on governments to help remove financial barriers to marriage.
He argued that it would be inconsistent for a government to prohibit certain forms of sexual behaviour without also considering the social conditions that may make lawful marriage difficult.
His position also reflects a broader debate over the role of government in supporting family life and addressing social problems.
Nigeria has 12 northern states that introduced Shariah criminal law frameworks after the return to democratic rule in 1999. The development led to major debates over the relationship between religious law and Nigeria’s secular constitutional system, although the implementation and scope of Shariah differ from state to state.
While Shariah courts and Islamic legal principles operate alongside the regular legal system in several northern states, the extent to which religious principles are applied in criminal and civil matters varies.
Over the years, governments and religious organisations have supported mass wedding programmes in parts of northern Nigeria as a way of helping young people overcome financial difficulties associated with marriage.
Such programs have usually involved financial assistance, household items or other forms of support for selected couples.
Gumi’s comments go further by presenting public funding for marriage as a matter of governance in states where sexual relations outside marriage are prohibited.
He maintained that helping people who genuinely need assistance to marry should be regarded as a legitimate use of public resources rather than as an unnecessary government expense.
The cleric also drew attention to women who may face difficulties finding suitable spouses, suggesting that government intervention could help address such social circumstances.
The issue of marriage has become increasingly important in discussions about the welfare of young Nigerians. Economic hardship, unemployment and the rising cost of living have made it difficult for many young people to establish independent households.
At the same time, religious leaders have repeatedly called for simpler and less expensive marriage ceremonies, arguing that excessive demands placed on intending couples can delay marriage.
Gumi’s proposal comes against this background, with the cleric linking government responsibility to the social conditions created by the enforcement of Shariah principles.
His argument is that if a government adopts laws and policies that restrict behaviour considered unlawful under Islamic teachings, it should also provide practical support that enables citizens to meet their needs through lawful means.