Ras Al Khaimah - However, there has been an increase in the number of marriages in RAK.
Published: Tue 10 May 2016, 7:38 PM
"I agree to marry you on condition that you let me live close to my sick mom." This is one of the terms added to the latest marriage contract between an Emirati couple here.
The husband-to-be not only gave the nod to his fair lady's condition, but also agreed to add the same in writing when the marriage was made official at the Ras Al Khaimah Courts.
Some other women insisted on completing their education while others inked the marriage contract only after their grooms pledged in writing to live in separate houses other than their families.
However, there has been an increase in the number of marriages in RAK.
"Official records show that the RAK courts have seen a significant rise of some 148 per cent in marriages in the first quarter of the year with 331 contracts sealed as compared to only 133, that is 198 more, over the same period last year," said Jassim Mohammed Al Makki, manager of social services department with RAK Courts. The rise has been attributed to a number of reasons, according to Al Makki. "The government has provided more houses for young people planning to get married, apart from the marriage fund granted to eligible youth."
Mass weddings have also been helpful to financially incapable young people not only in the emirate, but across the country, he said.
"There are many additional conditions put forward by both parties," said Al Makki. Some people find them acceptable, but some others refuse outright. There are still others who agree or pretend to agree and after the marriage they go back on their word. Such cases mostly end up separation."
Some women reportedly agree to marry only after their grooms appeared in court and pledged in writing to let them continue their careers.
Al Makki, who is also a RAK marriage contractor, said some brides insist that their grooms must buy them a villa, luxurious car, open a bank account with a large amount of money in it, or gift them a diamond set worth millions. "Such hard-to-meet conditions mostly end in heated disputes and even divorce thereafter, particularly since the groom often fall in debt after buying the expensive gifts,"
Recently, an Emirati woman accepted her groom's proposal only after he agreed in the marriage contract to let her live close to her sick mother whom she wanted to take care of and visit on a daily basis, he elaborated. "The husband agreed and the marriage contract has been officially attested at the RAK court."
In this case, however, the husband kept his word, and bought a new house for his bride close to her ill mother, and the couple is living a happy life, Al Makki pointed out. "However, some husbands do not honour their promises, and that leads to disputes between the couple, family interference, lawsuits and separation in the end."
As per Islamic Shariah, additional lawful conditions are permitted, he underlined. "The same is approved in the legal marriage contract where the husband and wife or either of them can add extra terms in a specific space, but both parties must agree on the same in writing in front of the marriage contractor concerned."
However, intolerant and illogical conditions not only leads to disputes but also to the increasing problem of spinsterhood, Al Makki warned. "Should a husband break his pre-marriage condition, his wife is entitled to seek divorce."
Not being allowed to see his bride's face before marriage as instructed by Islam is also a reasons behind reported separations, he unveiled.
In addition to this, some husbands fail to meet their financial duties and duties towards the family. All this can lead to divorce."
And some wive fail to pay due attention to their husbands, he added.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com
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