Dowry - a bounden duty on every Muslim male

In the Noble Quran, the financial issue involving dowry has been established as mandatory upon every Muslim man who decides to marry. Dowry is a collective gift in kind or cash given to the bride by her husband during the event of marriage. There's no fixed amount for dowry. It must be decided in accordance with the man's financial means. But it is obligatory upon him to give whatever he can afford.

Individuals in certain segments of the Muslim community are being very dismissive concerning the Quranic dictate of dowry. A Facebook group claiming the title "Light of Islam" recently rejected this Quranic commandment altogether. It asserted categorically, appealing to it's members to abstain from dowry, using the same tone in which Allah Almighty has prohibited riba in the Noble Quran.

The following is the statement made by "Light of Islam" by which it has tried to insult the Noble Quran.

"By ALLAAH, neither a Muslim can take Dowry nor a person who possesses Humanity. We want all of you to make a promise: 'Promise in the name of your LORD that, you'll neither Take dowry nor will Give it to others.' " 

It's obvious that this group is spreading darkness in the name of Islam.

The extent of its desire to manipulate the Quran is completely outside the bounds of acceptable behavior. The evidences are as follows.

What does the Noble Quran state regarding this oblgatory gift? 

"And those of whom ye seek content (by marrying them), give unto them their portions as a duty." (4:24) 

"so wed them by permission of their folk, and give unto them their portions in kindness, " (4:25)  

"And so are the virtuous women of the believers and the virtuous women of those who received the Scripture before you (lawful for you) when ye give them their marriage portions and live with them in honour, not in fornication, nor taking them as secret concubines." (5:5)  

"O Prophet! Lo! We have made lawful unto thee thy wives unto whom thou hast paid their dowries," (33:50) 

"And it is no sin for you to marry such women when ye have given them their dues. " (60:10) 

From the above verses it's crystal clear that ..

(1) Dowry is a pre-requisite for marriage which cannot be disregarded by believing men.  (2) It was obligatory even for the Prophet (SAAW).

Furthermore, in case of divorce the Quran mentions:

"It is no sin for you if ye divorce women while yet ye have not touched them, nor appointed unto them a portion. Provide for them, the rich according to his means, and the straitened according to his means, a fair provision. (This is) a bounden duty for those who do good." (2:236)

"If ye divorce them before ye have touched them and ye have appointed unto them a portion, then (pay the) half of that which ye appointed, unless they (the women) agree to forgo it," (2:237)

For divorced women a provision in kindness: a duty for those who ward off (evil). (2:241)

"Divorce must be pronounced twice and then (a woman) must be retained in honour or released in kindness. And it is not lawful for you that ye take from women aught of that which ye have given them; except (in the case) when both fear that they may not be able to keep within the limits (imposed by) Allah." (2:229)

"And if ye wish to exchange one wife for another and ye have given unto one of them a sum of money (however great), take nothing from it. Would ye take it by the way of calumny and open wrong ?" (4:20)

In the above verses it is absolutely clear that ..

(1) In case of divorce, dowry is not returnable unless the bride voluntarily decides to return it. 
(2) If divorce takes place before the consummation of marriage by which time the husband has not yet fixed a portion as gift for the bride, then he must appoint a gift and give it to her during the divorce.
(3) Even if divorce takes place before the consummation of marriage, yet the bride is entitled to retain half of the gift or dowry appointed for her.

After reading all of the above verses, there can be no doubt about the importance of dowry in a Muslim marriage to be given by the man. Anyone who rejects it is trying to change the Divine law to safeguard his personal interest. 

In fact, the very important reason why according to the Quranic law of inheritance, sons get twice the share of daughters, is because sons have plenty of financial responsibilities, unlike daughters. These responsibilities include meeting all expenses of their marriage, supporting their wives and children, supporting elderly parents and dependent siblings. Contrary to this, daughters have no such financial burdens according to Quranic laws. Any portion of wealth she inherits or earns is her personal possession with which she's not obligated to support her dependents, unless she volunteers to do so. Hence, those Muslim men who have gotten deviated enough to overrule the Quranic dictate concerning their financial duties, must also voluntarily forgo to claim double the share of inheritance. After all, Allah Almighty has commanded to give males twice the share of females with a specific reason. If some men are not able to handle that specific reason, they cannot simply dismiss their responsibility and move on without any adjustments. That would disrupt the entire balance of the structure of this law established by Allah.

So-called Muslim men of South Asian countries like Pakistan, India and Bangladesh have sunk into the depth of shamelessness by not only waiving dowry for themselves, but dumping this responsibility on the poor bride. They have picked up this kafir culture from the Hindus of India and have been adhering to it for centuries.

For further contents on this topic, check its thread at MV

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