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الفتح الربانی
Fath al-Rabbani
مسائل النكاحIssues of Marriage
بَابُ مَا جَاءَ فِي الْجِهَازِChapter: What Has Been Reported Regarding the Bridal Furnishing
Hadith 6942
اُردوEn
وَعَنْهُ مِنْ طَرِيقٍ ثَالِثٍ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ لَمَّا زَوَّجَهُ فَاطِمَةَ بَعَثَ مَعَهَا بِخَمِيلَةٍ وَوِسَادَةٍ مِنْ أَدَمٍ حَشْوُهَا لِيفٌ وَرَحَيَيْنِ وَسِقَاءٍ وَجَرَّتَيْنِ
(Third chain) When the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) married Lady Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), he (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) gave her this dowry: a sheet, a leather pillow filled with leaves, two grinding stones, a water skin, and two pitchers.
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … From these ahadith it is understood that it is permissible to give some items as dowry (jahez) according to need and necessity, but to indulge in extravagance and excess in this matter is extremely reprehensible in every respect, as is happening in the present era. The wealthy are caught up in pride and boasting in this regard, the poor are preparing for their daughters’ marriages in extreme distress, begging for help, and people of average means are becoming indebted and ruining the peace of their lives.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir radi Allahu anhu that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to him: “A bed is for the man, a bed for his wife, the third for a guest, and the fourth is for the Shaytan.” (Sahih Muslim: 3886)
Imam Nawawi said: The scholars of Islam hold the view that the meaning of these ahadith is that when people go beyond need and necessity in such matters, it is for boasting, arrogance, and worldly adornment, and such things are blameworthy, which are attributed to Shaytan, because he is pleased with them, he casts such whispers into people’s hearts, and makes their actions appear beautiful to them. Respected readers! Bear in mind that the extravagant dowries, elaborate wedding processions, customs, and grand feasts of the present era have taken such forms that their sole purpose is ostentation and pride, and their foundation is not the Sunnah of the Messenger. Even the most miserly and stingy people are found spending lavishly on such occasions—why is that? Just a few days ago, a man invited fifteen hundred people to his wedding feast (walima), prepared three types of dishes including mutton and chicken, and the wedding celebrations continued for three or four days. This man owed twenty-five thousand rupees to a very poor and disabled relative. As soon as the wedding was over, he went to that relative’s house and began to demand repayment of his loan. That poor man sold his necessary wheat and borrowed some money to pay off the debt. Now the question is: if spending hundreds of thousands of rupees on wedding processions and feasts is Sunnah, then why can’t a few thousand rupees be forgiven for a needy relative, or why can’t he be given a few more months’ respite? Who will understand the spirit of Islam, and then where will the answer come from? The same is the case with dowry: such shamelessness is rampant that the boy’s side formally demands dowry, and thus, in the eyes of the Shariah, becomes a blameworthy beggar.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jabir radi Allahu anhu that the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to him: “A bed is for the man, a bed for his wife, the third for a guest, and the fourth is for the Shaytan.” (Sahih Muslim: 3886)
Imam Nawawi said: The scholars of Islam hold the view that the meaning of these ahadith is that when people go beyond need and necessity in such matters, it is for boasting, arrogance, and worldly adornment, and such things are blameworthy, which are attributed to Shaytan, because he is pleased with them, he casts such whispers into people’s hearts, and makes their actions appear beautiful to them. Respected readers! Bear in mind that the extravagant dowries, elaborate wedding processions, customs, and grand feasts of the present era have taken such forms that their sole purpose is ostentation and pride, and their foundation is not the Sunnah of the Messenger. Even the most miserly and stingy people are found spending lavishly on such occasions—why is that? Just a few days ago, a man invited fifteen hundred people to his wedding feast (walima), prepared three types of dishes including mutton and chicken, and the wedding celebrations continued for three or four days. This man owed twenty-five thousand rupees to a very poor and disabled relative. As soon as the wedding was over, he went to that relative’s house and began to demand repayment of his loan. That poor man sold his necessary wheat and borrowed some money to pay off the debt. Now the question is: if spending hundreds of thousands of rupees on wedding processions and feasts is Sunnah, then why can’t a few thousand rupees be forgiven for a needy relative, or why can’t he be given a few more months’ respite? Who will understand the spirit of Islam, and then where will the answer come from? The same is the case with dowry: such shamelessness is rampant that the boy’s side formally demands dowry, and thus, in the eyes of the Shariah, becomes a blameworthy beggar.
