Ya Abi Zawwijni

Ya Abi Zawwijni (Arabic: يا أبي زوجني, lit. 'O My Father, Marry Me Off') is an Islamic social and advisory treatise written by the contemporary Saudi author and preacher Abd al-Malik bin Qasim. The booklet addresses the social and religious dimensions of marriage, focusing on the responsibility of parents and guardians to facilitate marriage for young men and women.

Overview and Purpose

Written as a concise guide for Muslim families and youth, Ya Abi Zawwijni addresses contemporary challenges surrounding courtship, marriage delays, and celibacy in modern Muslim societies. Through a combination of scriptural references, classical sayings, and practical advice, the author urges guardians to prioritize the moral protection and spiritual well-being of their children over customary and financial constraints.

Themes and Content

The treatise centers on several recurring themes concerning marriage and family ethics in Islamic jurisprudence and ethics:

• Responsibility of Guardians: The author highlights the religious duty incumbent upon fathers and legal guardians (awliya') to assist eligible young men in marrying and to facilitate suitable proposals for their daughters without imposing unjustified obstacles.
• Warning Against Impediments (‘Adl): The work cautions against the practice of preventing women from marrying (‘adl), whether motivated by tribal bias, greed for their income, or excessive material conditions, reminding guardians of the Islamic prohibitions against depriving dependents of compatible spouses (akfa').
• Early Marriage and Chastity: The text underscores the spiritual and societal benefits of early marriage as a safeguard for modesty and chastity (‘iffah) against modern moral temptations.
• Moderation in Dowries and Wedding Costs: The booklet criticizes exorbitant dowries (muhur) and lavish wedding expenditures, presenting simpler historical practices from early Islamic history as models of moderation and religious propriety.

Style and Format

Like many of Abd al-Malik bin Qasim's publications, Ya Abi Zawwijni is composed in accessible Modern Standard Arabic, formatted as an easy-to-read pamphlet intended for wide public distribution, moral education, and practical counsel within Islamic community and family settings.