Tajikistan’s chief mufti, Sayedmukarram Abdulqodirzoda, has proposed introducing premarital preparation courses to help young people better understand family life, marital responsibilities and the challenges they may face after marriage.
Abdulqodirzoda, chairman of the Council of Ulema of the Islamic Centre of Tajikistan, made the proposal in a video published by the council on October 11.
He said preparation for marriage should include not only religious education but also basic knowledge of psychology, sociology and interpersonal relationships. He also encouraged young people to read books on marriage and family relations.
The mufti stressed that both spouses share responsibility for building and maintaining a family and that both men and women should prepare for married life.
As an example, Abdulqodirzoda cited an unnamed country where, he claimed, the divorce rate had reached 80–85%. According to him, the figure fell to 25% after short-term premarital preparation courses were introduced. However, he did not identify the country or provide a source for the figures.
He said such courses could help prospective spouses understand their rights and responsibilities, develop relationship skills and approach marriage more thoughtfully.
In October 2024, Abdulqodirzoda also answered questions about family relations during an online program, discussing relations between spouses, child-rearing and family responsibilities.
During the program, he expressed concern about young people being drawn into radical groups that exploit them for their own purposes.
“I feel pain for the mothers of misguided young people who worry, suffer and weep for their children until their dying day,” he said.
He called for young people to receive more guidance and mentoring to help them find their way in life.
Divorce figures in Tajikistan
According to the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, 1,893 divorces were registered in the country in January–March 2026, down 8.6% from 2,072 in the same period of 2025.
Sughd province recorded the highest number of divorces, while Khatlon province had the lowest.
The number of registered marriages also declined. A total of 14,913 marriages were registered in the first three months of 2026, 18.5% fewer than a year earlier.