Looking for spouse in T'ganu? There's a syariah-compliant app for that

A new matchmaking application, ‘Jodoh Darul Iman,’ will be launched soon in Terengganu, specifically for singles and single parents looking for a spouse under an Islamic framework.

The app, however, only permits first-time marriages and is not intended for polygamous unions.

The initiative, developed by the Terengganu Family Development Foundation (YPKT), aims to assist individuals in finding a compatible spouse within a syariah-compliant process.

Welfare, Women’s Development Family, and National Unity state committee chairperson Maliaman Kassim told Utusan Malaysia that only unmarried individuals or single parents with a genuine intention to marry are eligible to use the app.

“This app will be introduced after YPKT conducts a simulation to ensure its smooth operation,” he said.

“We hope more singles, as well as single mothers and fathers, will find life partners in a manner that adheres to syariah principles within an Islamic framework.”

No private meetings

Maliaman added that the app is designed to promote respectful interactions, helping users identify potential partners who meet mutual criteria while fostering a respectful environment.

“We also want to foster a harmonious and respectful environment among the younger generation as they begin their journey into married life while observing decorum in interactions before marriage.”

Once users express mutual interest, they will not be allowed to meet privately, he added.

“Potential partners will not meet alone; instead, meetings will be arranged with a counsellor present to ensure that introductions proceed according to syariah.”

In 2022, Terengganu experienced an 11.3 percent decline in Muslim marriages, with a total of 168,726 Muslim marriages registered across Malaysia, down from 176,002 in 2021.

According to a media report, this decrease is part of a broader national trend where Muslim marriages fell by 4.1 percent. The median age for grooms remained at 28 years, while the median age for brides increased to 27 years.

Additionally, there was a significant rise in Muslim divorces, which surged by 45.8 percent, totalling 46,138 cases in 2022 compared to 31,650 in the previous year.

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