In shocking statements that sparked a wave of controversy on social media platforms, Egyptian al-Azhar preacher Khalil Amin urged young people to stop getting married if they do not have enough financial resources to cover life’s basic needs.
Amin emphasized that financial ability is a basic and legal condition that precedes the decision to marry, and emphasized that relying on the word spread without work or real income is a type of addiction and defamation of religion.
Among the most notable points of the controversial fatwa came from the words of the preacher of al-Azhar:
- At least £10,000: The preacher set a monthly income of £10,000 or more (in the case of a rented accommodation) as an approximate standard for those who qualified to open a home.
- The difference between poverty and disability: He explained that a poor person may have the bare minimum to live on, while someone who cannot pay rent or medicine is “totally incapacitated” and the Sharia requires him to keep clean and fast.
- The position of Shariah and religion: He referred to the saying of the Almighty: “And those who do not find marriage seek marriage until God enriches them with His bounty” and the hadith of the Prophet: “Who among you can do this? Let him marry”, emphasizing that ability is an asset and not only our side.
- The Truth About Divine Help: Explain that the noble hadith “There are three rights that God owes to help them…among them is the one who marries” means one who is able to do so and that divine help brings blessings, success and stability and is not a condition that it be an influx of money.
At the end of his speech, Al-Azhar’s preacher emphasized that he does not call for the banning of marriage or the intimidation of young people, but calls for rational and realistic calculations of life, stressing that “Islam is a religion of reason, trust and reason, not a religion of vanity, addiction and empty talk.”
In shocking statements that sparked a wave of controversy on social media platforms, Egyptian al-Azhar preacher Khalil Amin urged young people to refrain from taking the step of marriage if they do not have enough financial resources to cover life’s basic needs.
Amin stressed that financial ability is a religious and essential condition that precedes the decision to marry, stressing that relying on common expressions without real work and income is laziness and a misrepresentation of religion.
Among the most prominent points of the controversial fatwa issued by the al-Azhar preacher:
- At least £10,000: The preacher sets a monthly income of £10,000 or more (if renting) as a rough standard for those who meet the financial ability condition to start a family.
- Distinction between poverty and inability: He explained that a poor person may have a minimum living wage, while someone who cannot pay rent or buy medicine is “not able at all” and religious law requires them to abstain and fast.
- Shariah and Religion Position: He cited the Qur’anic verse: ﴿And those who cannot find the financial means of marriage, let them remain chaste until Allah enriches them with His bounty﴾, and the hadith of the Prophet: “Whoever among you is able to marry, let him do so”, which proves that this ability is a principle, not an I.
- The Reality of Divine Help: He explained that the noble hadith “There are three whom Allah has commanded to help…among them is one who seeks marriage” refers to one who is capable of marriage and that divine help comes as blessings, success and endurance, not necessarily in the form of an outflow of money.
Al-Azhar’s preacher concluded his remarks by stressing that he is not calling for banning marriage or scaring young people, but calling for rational and realistic calculations for life, asserting that “Islam is a religion of reason, trust and reason, not of mysticism, laziness and empty talk.”
