Addressing UAE's social issues, musically

Sharjah - The pricey life has increased distress, ethics have been ruined and pure manners have lessened

While the level of spinsterhood among Arab women, particularly the Emiratis, is significantly high, the famous singer of Sharjah, Ahmed Bukhatir, has decided to shed light on the main reasons of the phenomenon in an artistic way. Most of the opponents are women who do not like the idea of getting married against low costs, Bukhatir points out. "Some parents make the situation even worse by seeking only wealthy young men, those in power and prestigious positions and not heeding to good manners."
In his recent album Fathfar or Better go for pious woman underlined that 'life is built up with and upon love, for love is more noble and valuable' in reply to some parents' stubbornness and difficult conditions, and the skyrocketing wedding expenses that have deterred so many men from marriage. The 5.11 minute song, shot in Algeria, has been well-received from the public.
"The idea is so close to young people that the song has been watched on 200,000 people in just two days on YouTube."
The song, composed by Hisham Zarzor and directed by Zakaria Maimuni, went viral on social media and ended in a heated argument between supporters who believed that marriage costs should be more affordable and opponents who believed not. "The song has aroused a wave of arguments on social media on marriage and family-related issues."
"I have tried my best to encourage young people to marry and find a way out of the chronic crisis of expensive dowries and costly wedding procedures, let alone the big responsibility of marriage," Bukhatir told Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview.
In his song, Bukhatir said young people do wish to have a happy family of their own, while seeing couples happily walking with their kids. "The youth is always searching for someone who will complete their religion and water their yearnings by getting married, as advised by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)."
Bukhatir advised all parents to find pious men for their daughters and righteous women for their sons, with no delay. "Doing so, one will be surely a winner," he chanted.
"Should a man be granted with a wife blessed with kind ethics, wisdom and beauty, his eyes and heart will be satisfied and pleased while seeing her, and getting closer to such an angel-like woman, will add to their happiness, and vice versa."
Bukhatir then advised all parents to be lenient with the one who seek marriage. "Don't tire him with messages on how marriages has become an unbearable burden, exhausting youth and forcing them astray."
The pricey life has increased distress, ethics have been ruined and pure manners have lessened, Bukhatir warned. "Simple dowry will bless life and will insure love among couples."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE