Ukraine hit by largest drone attack since war began, says Zelensky    Germany's conservatives celebrate, but far right enjoy record result    British couple in their 70s arrested by Taliban    Syria plans to erase Queen Zenobia from history books    Ronaldo expresses joy celebrating Saudi Founding Day with Crown Prince at Saudi Cup 2025    Volvo returns to Saudi Arabia with Electromin — a bold step toward a sustainable future    Saudi Arabia implements new personal status regulations    Riyadh begins installing nameplates honoring Saudi imams and kings in 15 major squares    Bergwijn, Benzema lead Al-Ittihad to dominant 4-1 Clasico win over Al-Hilal    Saudi U-20 team secures spot in 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup with last-minute winner over China    PIF seeks to expand US investments despite restrictions, says governor Al-Rumayyan Saudi sovereign fund launched 103 companies across 13 sectors, aims to attract more foreign talent to Saudi Arabia    Saudi minister holds high-level talks at FII Miami to boost AI, tech, and space partnerships    Saudi Media Forum concludes with key industry partnerships and award recognitions    Al-Ettifaq stuns Al-Nassr with late winner as Ronaldo protests refereeing decisions    Imam Mohammed bin Saud: The founder of the First Saudi State and architect of stability    'Neighbors' canceled again, two years after revival    Proper diet and healthy eating key to enjoying Ramadan fast    Saudi Media Forum panel highlights Kingdom's vision beyond 2034 World Cup    AlUla Arts Festival 2025 wraps up with a vibrant closing weekend    'Real life Squid Game': Kim Sae-ron's death exposes Korea's celebrity culture    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    









Low dowry has its own negative effects
By Diana Al-Jassem
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 11 - 02 - 2009

Young Saudi men who launched an online campaign this week against soaring marriage costs are hoping to stir up debate in Saudi society and elicit a decision from the government to put a limit on dowry.
The campaign slogan “Let her become a spinster!” reflects the frustration of Saudi men who would like to settle down and raise a family, but just don't have the means to get started.
“We should find solutions for the high cost of marriage and the dowry problem,” said Mansour Bin Askar, Professor of Islamic Studies in Riyadh's King Saud University, commenting on the increasingly popular campaign on websites like asyeh.com. almgha.com. toyota4arab.com, tomaar.com. alhora.com, and montdiatna.com.
“These days many young Saudi men simply cannot afford to get married. That is what this campaign is all about,” said Askar.
Dowry amounts can go into the hundreds of thousands, depending on a family's status. However, most Saudi families generally demand a dowry of SR50,000 for the bridal wear and jewelry.
According to Askar, SR50,000 is quite reasonable in these days of high inflation.
Askar narrated one instance of how low dowry had a negative effect.
In 1974, the Zahrani tribe in the south of the Kingdom decided to decrease the amount of dowry to SR3,000 so as to enable young Zahrani men to marry.
However, when this happened a large number of men started to get married and then divorced several times, Askar said.
“The head of the Zahrani tribe discovered that Saudi men do not appreciate a woman if her dowry is too low, which is why he decided to raise the dowry again,” said Askar.
The Shariah does not specify the amount of the dowry leaving it up to the bride's family.
While religious experts have confirmed the need to decrease the dowry amount, some young Saudi men, especially those of tribal origin, remain keen on marrying Saudi girls despite the high dowries.
Abdul Aziz Al-Utaibi,who has just graduated from a nursing college and is looking for a job, is one such young Saudi man.
“I appeal to the Saudis who have started the campaign to stop it. On the one hand a dowry of SR50,000 is high, especially for newly graduated students, but on the other, the bride needs to buy a lot of things and she cannot do so with the way prices keep rising.”
Mnala Sobhi, a Saudi housewife from Makkah, agrees that dowry should be decreased, especially if the man is young and has just graduated from university. “In the Western Province, the situation is different. For example, my husband gave SR25,000 as dowry and bought gold worth SR8,000.”
“Society, especially the tribes, should make it easier for young Saudis to get married,” she said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.