<![CDATA[The high divorce rate in Indonesia highlights the importance of preparing prospective couples for the challenges of married life. This study aims to examine the implementation of pre-marital counseling at the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) in Panai Hulu District and explore prospective couples' understanding of the concept of a sakinah family following their participation in the program. This study employed a descriptive qualitative approach. Informants consisted of Islamic religious counselors and five prospective couples selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation and analyzed using an interactive data analysis model. The findings indicate that, based on the experiences and perceptions of informants, pre-marital counseling helps prospective couples develop a better understanding of the objectives of marriage, the rights and obligations of spouses, family communication, and strategies for resolving domestic conflicts. The implementation of counseling was supported by the competence of religious counselors and administrative support from the KUA. However, limited time, inadequate instructional media, and participants' reluctance to express their opinions remained challenges. The study suggests the need for more participatory and practical counseling approaches, including discussions and case studies, to better address the needs of prospective couples in preparing for a harmonious, resilient, and sustainable sakinah family.]]>
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