CAIRO — Egypt's Dar Al Iftaa will now offer training courses for those who are about to get married. The effort, in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, is designed to combat the rise in divorce in Egypt.

Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawki Allam said during a symposium on the role of youth in nation-building at Suez Canal University on Nov. 2, “Dar al-Iftaa, aware of the danger of early divorce, is implementing a number of initiatives to tackle this phenomenon, including courses for couples wishing to get married. Such courses do not cover the legal aspect alone but also tackle psychological and social aspects. We also cooperate with the relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Solidarity.”

Allam added, “We opened the Marriage Counseling Center to tackle problems facing married couples and there is a joint committee of psychiatry specializing in Sharia.”

On Oct. 25 the Egyptian Ministry of Awqaf launched its Sakan wa Mawadda (Housing and Affection) initiative to educate young engaged and married couples on "family jurisprudence and the rights of spouses" as well as