An Analysis of Dowry Practices and Its Religious Aspect in Rural Area of District Swat-Pakistan

Abstract

This study aimed at finding the association of dowry practices in Pakhtun culture (dependent variable) with religious aspect of dowry (independent variable). The study was conducted in three villages of District Swat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A sample size of 331 respondents was selected through simple random sampling. Data was collected on a three level likert scale interview schedule. The association of study variables was tested by using chi-square teststatistics. The association of dowry practices in Pakhtun culture was found significant with dowry is the marriage phenomenon (P=0.001), religious scholars do not raise their voices against dowry (P=0.016), due to ignorance Islamic teaching. Dowry has taken a shape of religious obligations (P=0.000), understanding the teachings of Islam better understand the concept of dowry (P=0.000), clergies are making dowry a religious act due to their own vested interests (P=0.000),religious scholars have been failed to differentiate the religious aspect of dowry from cultural practices (P=0.000), religious bonds of marital life is replaced through socioeconomic relationships (P=0.000)and Pakhtun culture is highly reluctant to internalize religious values of dowry (P=0.000). To mitigate the social distress of dowry, misinterpretation of religious values, focusing on the socio-cultural dynamics were recommendations of the study. Keywords : Analysis Aspect, Culture, Dowry, Religious DOI : 10.7176/JPCR/41-01