Love and Marriage

Viewpoint: In Western countries, we tend to think of love and marriage going together hand in hand; men and women date and get to know one another well before getting married. In KSA, that is not usually the case; although Saudi customs are changing, arranged marriages are still common. The process begins when a young man’s mother speaks with the mother of a prospective young woman (usually from the same tribe, possibly from the same extended family). The young man then visits the young woman’s family with his mother. If the two families agree on the match, they are engaged, and the wedding goes into the planning stages. Sometimes, the bride and groom don’t even meet each other until their wedding day. Many marriages like this end in divorce; in other marriages, the husband marries multiple wives. Other couples, the husband and wife remain married and grow to love each other. Although older Saudis view marriage as more of a practical arrangement, many young Saudis hope to find true and lasting love within their marriages. However, they are often unsure how to find love when their new spouse is a stranger, and they’ve had few opportunities to interact with the opposite sex. 

Prayer Points: Please pray that the search for love and strong marriages will lead Saudis to the unfailing love of Jesus, and through this love, husbands and wives will grow to love each other and grow to love God.