Why So Many Couples Have to Wait
Struggling to afford marriage is not new. Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said that he and other young Companions had no wealth at all when Allah's Messenger (PBUH) told them,
"O young people! Whoever among you can marry, should marry"
Marriage has always needed some means. Today, for families living in poverty in Pakistan, marriage expenses add up fast. The head of the family may earn a daily wage that barely pays for food and rent. Clothing, bedding, kitchen items and a simple ceremony can cost far more than he could ever save.
There is often social pressure as well. People expect the bride’s family to provide dowry (jahez), the household goods a bride takes to her new home. Islam does not ask for it. It’s a cultural custom. But the pressure is real and some families put a wedding off for years because of it, and Zakat for marriage is meant for families like these.
Can Zakat Be Given for Marriage?
Yes, Zakat can be given for marriage. Many scholars say it is permissible to give Zakat to a poor person who cannot afford marriage expenses. Zakat, also written Zakah, is the obligatory alms that Allah (SWT) has made a pillar of Islam.
In the Qur'an, Allah names eight categories of people who can receive Zakat (Surah At-Tawbah, 9:60). They are the poor, the needy, those employed to collect it, those whose hearts are to be reconciled, freeing those in bondage, people in debt, the cause of Allah and stranded travellers. A person who wants to marry but has no means usually falls under the poor or the needy. So, they can receive Zakat to help with marriage.
What Scholars Say About Zakat for Marriage
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen was asked about a man who earns enough for food, drink and shelter but cannot afford to marry. He answered that it is permissible to give him Zakat funds so he can marry and pay a full mahr. He explained that
"A person's need for marriage is a real need, and in some cases it may be like his need for food and drink."
