KABUL -- A mass wedding ceremony in Kabul this month gave 101 young couples the opportunity to get married without spending a fortune.
The Shuhada Foundation organised the ceremony on July 7, the third such mass wedding organised by the charity since early 2021.
Unemployment and poverty have increased in Afghanistan in recent years, making traditionally expensive weddings out of reach for many youth.
As such, the frequency of mass wedding ceremonies has also grown, according to the organisers.
Making dreams come true
"I was working in a foreign organisation and had a good income ... At that time, I got engaged and decided to get married and have a family," said Ali Ahmad Hassani, 27, one of the newlyweds at the mass wedding ceremony.
"Unfortunately, circumstances changed, and I lost my job," he said. "I could not get married due to unemployment and economic problems."
Hassani said many young people cannot afford to get married and are forced to illegally migrate to neighbouring countries in search of employment.
"They often get arrested, injured or killed at the borders," he said.
"I am very happy that I was able to achieve my dream today along with dozens of other young people with support from a charity organisation in a mass wedding ceremony," he added.
Juma Khan Mohammadi, 29, said he was engaged for over a year and a half.
"I could not afford to hold my own wedding due to economic challenges and the very high cost associated with the ceremony," he said. "I thank the [Shuhada] Foundation for supporting me and other bridegrooms to start our own family."
"Considering the unemployment ratio among young people, the economic problems of families, and the ongoing economic crisis in the country, organising mass wedding ceremonies can benefit ... poor and needy families," Mohammadi said.
He urged other charity organisations and wealthy people to assist other young people by organising mass wedding ceremonies across Afghanistan.
Economic problems and "irrational marriage customs" prevent many young people from getting married and starting their own family, said Fawzia, 25, one of the brides at the ceremony.
Fawzia was engaged for almost three years and could not get married for the same reasons, she said.
"The more time passed, the harder it became for us to afford a wedding ceremony. Fortunately, our wedding ceremony was held here, and my husband and I appreciate and welcome the Shuhada Foundation's initiative."
"Afghanistan is one of the poorest countries in the world, and our people depend on humanitarian and economic assistance from the international community," Fawzia noted.
"I call on families to avoid holding resplendent wedding ceremonies and think about their daughters' and sons' future," she said.
Saving money, lives
Mohammad Mukhtar, one of the organisers of the event held by the Shuhada Foundation, explained the benefits of mass weddings and some of the risks associated with societal pressure to hold lavish ceremonies.
"Our goal is to facilitate the wedding ceremonies of poor youth on the one hand and reduce the huge and harsh expenses that poor families have to bear on the other," he said. "Furthermore, we want to fight bad marriage traditions and practices that exist in society."
"I know a large number of young people who decide to illegally travel to neighbouring countries do so due to unemployment, poverty and economic problems," he said. "They work there very hard to save money to pay for their wedding expenses."
"Unfortunately, some of them are imprisoned or killed while on their journeys," Mukhtar said.
One of the foundation's main goals is to prevent illegal migration and the loss of the country's youth at the borders of neighbouring countries, he said.
"The lowest cost of a wedding is 300,000-500,000 AFN [$3,500-$5,800] in our country," he said.
"I ask families to avoid pursuing the wrong marriage customs. Holding such an opulent and expensive wedding ceremony that costs them massively can worsen their financial situation."
The cost for a young couple in the mass wedding ceremony was only 42,000 AFN ($490), which was paid for by the Shuhada Foundation.
Low-cost weddings
There is precedent in Islam for holding modest wedding ceremonies, said Sayed Ali Reza Hashimi, a religious scholar.
"Marriage is sunnah in Islam," he said. "It will bring peace, perfection and reconciliation. It ensures families' and society's solidarity and well-being."
"Our country is facing an economic crisis and poverty," Hashemi noted, adding, "Islam prohibits holding expensive wedding ceremonies that will further plunge families into poverty."
"Our Prophet (PBUH) said the best women are those whose dowry and wedding expenses are low," he said.
Islam emphasised low-cost weddings for a reason, he said, because in poor families and communities, weddings with huge costs have dangerous social consequences, such as moral corruption, theft and crime.
"These events may lead to illegal migration or disruption of social order," he added.
In group marriages, most couples who were previously engaged and unable to get married are getting married. Those who organize institutions and carry out their affairs say that the financial costs are paid by national businessmen and the Afghan diaspora living abroad. In a group wedding where I was also a participant, two grooms sitting next to their brides and wearing black pant coats thanked the organizers of the ceremony and asked other people not to overspend in the weddings. A religious scholar, Syed, also said during the discussion that Islam forbids its followers from extravagance in any work, and according to him, preparing the ground for the Shariah marriage of two young people is very rewarding from the point of view of Islam. He spends a lot on weddings; in the current situation, instead of having weddings in fancy hotels, he should spend that money on educating young people and finding jobs for them. According to surveys of different institutions, more than 70% of Afghans live below the poverty line. Still, people with a good economy spend millions of AFN on weddings in one night in big and luxurious hotels that the Afghans and others call waste from the point of view of Islam. If he has an average wedding (do it at home), the expenses will be little, and many others may be able to work with that money.
Reply4 Comment
It is very well done. Helping poor people is rewarding, but these young men and brides must also invest a certain amount of money. From 1% to 99%, they should put in as much money as possible. If the married couple does not participate in the financial support, then they will turn to kind of begging. In other words, nothing should be given to anyone for free. I will provide an example; there is a girl who has not graduated from 12th grade but is poor; she should do charity work for at least one month. For example, to teach several children. Also, a boy getting married must work for a charity organization; if he does not have money, he should do something else that has the form of helping the charity organization or society. No one should be given anything for free. with regards Mohammad
Reply4 Comment
Group weddings, which have recently become a tradition through charity teams, are a very appropriate action. Due to unemployment, excessive payment and lack of job opportunities, most of the girls stay in their fathers' homes. In this regard, it is necessary for the elders of the families to fight for the expenses of the marriage, so that the young people can get married in an easy way and according to the Muhammadan Sharia, and not violate the foundations of the blessed religion of Islam. The government should also be serious in this field and establish special principles and laws for this work so that poor people can marry easily.
Reply4 Comment
I am against such group marriages. We hope that the organizations conducting young people's group marriages will stop this activity. These institutions are taking millions of money from Afghans living abroad because of these marriages; that is, they have started their business, while here in the country, many young men and women who do not have the means get married. If a person does not have AFN 200,000 for marriage, how will he grow a child the right way? The same couple gives birth to a group of children the next day, which is a problem for them, and society cannot eliminate them. Such parents can't afford their children's education, food, or clothing. Finally, they will face begging and looting on the streets, whose control will be difficult.
Reply4 Comment