Enab Baladi – Yamen Moghrabi
Security disturbances and wars play a direct role in changing some social customs and traditions, especially if they persist for long periods, as is the case in Syria, which has been living under these circumstances since 2011, following the outbreak of the Syrian revolution and the Syrian regime’s choice of a security solution in response to the protesters’ demands.
With the evolution of military and security events, economic, political, and social crises have emerged, accompanied by widespread internal displacement and external refugee flows, which in turn have led to changes in some inherited ideas within society.
As-Suwayda province is characterized by social and religious specifics, as most of its inhabitants belong to the Druze sect, and marriage and divorce are subject to the laws of the religious court. Customs and traditions dominate other phenomena such as dowries and the inheritance of daughters and women, which are issues that have been affected by recent developments and have seen changes in some aspects.
Dowries between two eras
The value of the dowry required for marriage in As-Suwayda has changed like other regions of Syria, based on the economic conditions in the country. Up until 2011, the average dowry in Syria was 200,000 Syrian pounds (about 2000 dollars according to 2011 exchange rate) for the advance (the amount paid before marriage) and the same amount for the deferred payment, which is paid in the case of divorce, considering that these amounts may decrease or increase depending on the groom’s financial situation.
Social status also plays a role in the value of the dowry, which turns the matter into a kind of social custom, as there is no specific law that stipulates a certain amount for the required dowry.
Regarding the changes in As-Suwayda, Enab Baladi communicated with some families, who reported that the dowry value has become determined in gold or US dollars instead of Syrian pounds, following the collapse of the latter’s value and the economic crisis in Syria.
Families in the province added that some are now asking for large amounts between the advance and the deferred payments, but these are cases that cannot be generalized.
Circumstances change the outlook on dowries
Some girls or their families are trying to lighten the burden of dowries on young men, according to Suhair Abu Faraj, who got married in recent years and decided to remove the burden of the dowry off her fiancé before the wedding.
Abu Faraj told Enab Baladi that currently, there is a reluctance to marry, and those who do try to go ahead with the least costs possible.
Abu Faraj married with the minimum amount possible, refusing to write down the dowry (advance and deferred payments) or buy gold. When the contract was being written in the competent court, the judge did not accept this arrangement, forcing her to put a symbolic amount.
Families usually view the dowry as a guarantee for the woman in case of divorce, which is something present in Islamic law and some Christian sects.
Abu Faraj’s family supported her decision, considering that securing her rights comes through her education and not through the dowry paid.
For her part, Shorouk al-Aid, a resident of As-Suwayda, said that anyone looking to marry off their daughter in the current circumstances must disregard and focus on the dowry amount due to current economic conditions.
She added that respect between spouses is much more important than material details, and that the dowry is not a real guarantee for women. If divorce occurs after a long period under conditions like those prevailing in the region, with the collapse of currency values and the economic crisis, it will not guarantee the future of the girl in any way.
Additionally, the dowry diminishes the value of a woman, as if someone is paying the price for the woman who will become his wife; she has also chosen to make the procedure merely formal.
Wajeha al-Hajjar, an activist residing in As-Suwayda, told Enab Baladi that current circumstances play a significant role in whether marriage will take place at all. Certainly, for women and families who consider the value of the dowry a fundamental factor, they will hesitate to marry off their daughters if the groom does not have the financial capabilities to pay the requested amounts.
She added that many cases have involved entangling young men in large sums to complete the marriage, while in other cases, the dowry has become a barrier between partners, according to her description.
Naghm Tamer, also from As-Suwayda, stated that current circumstances play a significant role in changing the perspective on the dowry, as they have led to a decline in the economic level of a large segment of people, while many cases of divorce are occurring. Therefore, some families insist on high dowries and request them in gold or US dollars due to the collapse of the Syrian currency value.
Between religion and society
The personal status law for the Druze sect differs from that of other Syrian Islamic sects, but it agrees on the requirement for the husband to pay the wife’s dowry.
Article 20 of this law states, “The husband is obligated to provide a dowry for the wife and her maintenance from the moment a correct marriage contract is made, thus establishing the right of inheritance.”
The dowry is considered essential for marriage, not only among the Druze but also in different Islamic sects, as well as in Christianity.
According to the Al-Azhar Electronic Portal, affiliated with the Al-Azhar institution, one of the largest religious entities in the Islamic world, the dowry was established “as a dignity for women and as a display of the greatness of the marriage contract and its status,” and that the wife “is something not easily obtained without expenditure, so the husband does not trivialize her after acquiring her.”
Moreover, it defines the dowry as “the money that the husband must pay to his wife as one of the effects of the marriage contract” and it is the full property of the wife, who can manage it as she pleases and may give it as a gift to whomever she wishes.
The religious perspective on dowries differs from the point of view of some social segments, who see that the very process of dowries delineates a different relationship between spouses than that which is presumed to be based on equality.
A right for girls
Some girls interviewed by Enab Baladi in As-Suwayda believe that the dowry is a right and a guarantee for the girl, especially if she is not employed or working, as Naghm Amer articulated. In contrast, Arij Naim believes that the dowry is part of women’s rights in society.
However, according to Naim’s viewpoint, it depends on the family environment. Some believe it is a necessary thing regardless of other factors, while others prioritize their daughter’s happiness, emphasizing that the value of a girl is essential and not material. When this substantive value is lost, no amount of money can replace it.
According to Wajeha al-Hajjar, the dowry merely diminishes the dignity of women; while it may have initially been intended as an idea for honoring women, over time it has represented the opposite completely. Many decide whether to accept marriage based on the dowry’s value, as if women are commodities to be bought and sold, and it is based on the purchasing power of the suitor whether the engagement takes place or not.
The economic and security conditions in Syria have led to an increase in marriage costs, complicating the conditions that some set for marrying off their daughters, while other families consider the circumstances of young men and the current economic challenges, moving beyond the customs.