Saudi- Readers back fixing of dowry for women

(MENAFN- Arab News) JEDDAH: A majority of respondents in an Arab News online poll believe the recent government move to fix the 'mahr' (dowry for women) could achieve its purpose of reducing the rate of spinsterhood in the Kingdom.
Readers were asked 'Will the recent fixing of mahr (dowry) help curb the rising number of spinsters in the kingdom?'
Of the 1840 readers who responded 961 or 52.23 percent said yes. Those who said no numbered 596 or 32.39 percent while 283 or 15.38 percent said they were unsure.
Earlier reports said the dowry for unmarried women was to be fixed at SR50000 while the amount for divorcees would be SR30000.
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal who is also adviser to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman was reported to have directed city governors in the region to hold a meeting to prepare a document mentioning the dowry amounts.
The move was meant to curb the rising number of spinsters in the kingdom which was placed at 4 million this year up from about 1.5 million in 2010.
Ahmed Al-Sinani an expert on social issues was quoted as saying the high number was a result of various factors including high dowries expensive functions some parents marrying off daughters for money high unemployment rate among youth in recent years housing crisis and the absence of the role of social and charitable institutions.

Mixed reaction
The issue elicited mixed reactions among readers.
'I have been advocating this for a long time that state should fix the dowry as the greedy parents' demands have blown out of proportion which has caused the debt crisis social problems and divorces. Indeed we must make nikah very easy and zinah very difficult' wrote reader Nooruls143 in a comment to the report on Arab News.com.
Ahmad Alld said the move is laudable for indeed the amount of mahr demanded by most parents ranges from SR 100000 to SR200000.
'An ordinary Saudi man don't have that much many so they are unable to marry and sometime indulge in unlawful activities like visiting Bahrain/Dubai' he said.
Reader Lorraine asked: 'Are men truly so disturbed by the prospect of unmarried women? Or are they simply trying to reduce the bride price?'
Kamran Rafique commenting on the Arab News story on Facebook said even the reduced SR50000 dowry is beyond the reach of many would-be husbands. He suggested that people be educated 'to look beyond financial restrictions to secure marriage and be sincere to each other due to love respect common interests and humanity.'
Some pushed for the abolition of the dowry system altogether.
'Let's remove this condition and try to make nikkah (marriage) easier' Abdul Mohsin suggested. Reader Huned concurred.
Mustafa Malugala said fixing the 'mahr' was not in accordance with Islamic tradition as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never decreed it.
Mali countered that abolishing the dowry system would be 'against the laws of Allah and the rights he has given women.'
Reader A Muslimah opined that the Mahr was a 'wedding gift' and a right given to the woman and that she is the one to decide if she wishes to waive that right or not. At the same time she said it must not be abused.
'It is a gift to the bride not her parents nor any other family member (though she is free to do with it as she pleases). It doesn't even have to be a monetary gift she has the full right to decide whatsoever it may be bearing in mind that extravagance and excess is against the Sunnah' she said.