The family’s circumstances were highlighted in a report by Khaama Press Agency published on Tuesday, 20 October. Sadiq’s story illustrates the difficulties of providing food, shelter and education for a large family when financial resources are severely limited.
Managing the household is a challenge in itself. Sadiq has admitted that he sometimes struggles to remember all his children’s names. When the family gathers for a meal, he occasionally counts them to check whether everyone is present, only to discover that one child is elsewhere.
According to the report, Sadiq and his wives have lost 14 children over the years, adding to the hardships experienced by the family.
Modest earnings cannot meet the family’s needs
Sadiq works at a car showroom, where he earns around 1,000 Afghanis whenever a vehicle is sold, according to his account. That income is insufficient to cover the expenses of a household comprising dozens of children and four wives.
Several of his children also work to help support the family. Some collect paper and plastic to be used as fuel, reflecting the extent of the financial pressure on the household.
The family generally prepares two meals a day: breakfast and dinner. Two of Sadiq’s wives are responsible for cooking. During winter, family members eat together inside the house, while in summer they gather in the courtyard.
Even with these arrangements, food is not always available in sufficient quantities. Some children sometimes have to go to sleep hungry, the report said.
The family’s living conditions are equally difficult. Sleeping space is limited, and six or seven people sometimes have to share a single thin blanket. Such arrangements offer little comfort or privacy, particularly when so many people live under one roof.
The house also lacks conventional doors and windows in its rooms, with thin curtains used instead of doors. The bathing area doubles as a place for washing clothes and dishes and is sometimes used as a toilet.
These conditions raise concerns about sanitation, personal privacy and the difficulties of maintaining a healthy living environment for a large family, especially its younger members.
Remembering every child’s name is a struggle
The sheer size of Sadiq’s family has created unusual challenges. He sometimes finds it difficult to recall his children’s individual names and resorts to calling them ‘my son’ or ‘my child’.
The report recounts an occasion when he mistakenly gave a different girl’s name while speaking to a religious leader at a wedding ceremony.
Sadiq said his decision to have a large family was motivated by his desire to increase the number of followers of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). However, he has also acknowledged the practical difficulties that come with raising so many children.
The loss of 14 children over the years is another painful part of the family’s history. The report does not provide details about the circumstances of those deaths.
Early marriages raise concerns about women’s health
Sadiq married for the first time at the age of 20. He said he had to save money before each marriage to meet the financial requirements associated with the bride’s marriage payment, or mahr.
According to the report, his four wives were between 13 and 16 years old when they married him. Their ages highlight concerns about child marriage and the risks associated with girls entering marriage during adolescence.
Early marriage can interrupt education, restrict personal choices and increase the likelihood of pregnancy at a young age. Adolescent pregnancy carries health risks for both mothers and babies, while repeated pregnancies can place additional physical demands on women.
Access to appropriate maternal healthcare, adequate nutrition and postnatal support is particularly important in such circumstances. Yet healthcare remains difficult to access in some parts of Afghanistan, especially in remote areas.
The report does not provide detailed information about the health of Sadiq’s wives, so no conclusions can be drawn about their individual medical circumstances. Their reported ages at marriage, however, bring wider concerns about reproductive health and access to healthcare into focus.
Education remains a priority despite poverty
Sadiq cannot read or write, but he has tried to send his children to school. The cost of education remains a major obstacle for the family.
Schooling can involve expenses for books, stationery, clothing and other essentials. Meeting these costs for dozens of children is especially difficult when the household struggles to afford food.
Some of Sadiq’s children already work to contribute to the family’s income. Balancing employment with education can create further difficulties, potentially limiting their opportunities to complete their studies.
Education could help children gain skills and improve their prospects for future employment. For families living in poverty, however, the immediate need to secure food and other necessities can make long-term educational goals difficult to pursue.
Sadiq hopes his children will have opportunities that he himself did not. Ensuring that they can continue their education is one of his principal concerns.
Appeal to government, aid groups and businesses
Sadiq has appealed to the Afghan government, humanitarian organisations and businesspeople for help in supporting his family.
His priorities are basic but urgent: he wants enough food for everyone in the household and opportunities for his children to receive an education.
His circumstances highlight the difficulties that can arise when a large household has to depend on limited earnings. Inadequate food, overcrowded sleeping arrangements, poor sanitation and barriers to education can affect children’s health and development.
Support with food, educational expenses and access to essential healthcare could help ease some of the family’s immediate difficulties. Assistance would also be important in reducing the pressure on children to contribute to household expenses at the cost of their education.
For Sadiq, the challenge is not simply managing a household of extraordinary size. It is ensuring that his children have the basic necessities needed to grow up safely and build a future.
At 57, he is asking for help to achieve two goals that remain out of reach: putting sufficient food on the table and ensuring that his children have access to education.
