Answer: If the marriage contract is made, but privacy is not consummated, and the husband dies, then the wife will be an heir and will also observe the waiting period (iddah) upon the husband’s death.
Alqamah bin Qais رضي الله عنه narrates from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه:
إِنَّهُ أَتَاهُ قَوْمٌ فَقَالُوا: إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِّنَّا تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةَ وَلَمْ يُفْرِضٌ لَهَا صَدَاقًا ، وَلَمْ يَجْمَعْهَا إِلَيْهِ حَتَّى مَاتَ ، فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ: مَاسُئِلْتُ مُنْذُ فَارَقْتُ رَسُولَ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَشَدَّ عَلَى مِنْ هَذِهِ ، فَأْتُوا غَيْرِي ، فَاخْتَلَفُوا إِلَيْهِ فِيهَا شَهْرًا ، ثُمَّ قَالُوا لَهُ فِي آخِرِ ذَالِكَ: مَنْ نَسْأَلُ إِنْ لَمْ نَسْأَلُكَ ، وَأَنْتَ مِنْ جلَّةِ أَصْحَابِ مُحَمَّدٍ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِهذَا الْبَلَدِ وَلَانَجِدُ غَيْرَكَ؟ قَالَ: سَأَقُولُ فِيهَا بِجَهْدِ رَأْبِي ، فَإِنْ كَانَ صَوَابًا فَمِنَ اللَّهِ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، وَإِنْ كَانَ خَطَأَ فَمِنِّي وَمِنَ الشَّيْطَان وَالله وَرَسُولُهُ مِنْهُ بُرَآءُ ، أَرى أَنْ أَجْعَلَ لَهَا صَدَاق نِسَائِهَا ، لَا وَكَسَ وَلَا شَطَطَ ، وَلَهَا الْمِيرَاثُ ، وَعَلَيْهَا الْعِدَّةُ أَرْبَعَةَ أَشْهُرٍ وَعَشْرًا ، قَالَ: وَذَالِكَ بِسَمْعِ أُنَاسٍ مِّنْ أَشْجَعَ ، فَقَامُوا فَقَالُوا: نَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ قَضَيْتَ بِمَا قَضى بِهِ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي امْرَأَةٍ مِنَّا يُقَالُ لَهَا بَرْوَعُ بِنْتُ وَاشِي ، قَالَ: فَمَا رُنِي عَبْدُ اللهِ فَرحَ فَرْحَةٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ إِلَّا بِإِسْلَامِه .
“Some people asked him a question: A man from our tribe got married, did not set a dower (mahr), and died before consummation. (What should the woman do?) He said: Since the death of the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم until today, no more complicated issue has been asked from me; ask someone else. The matter continued for a month. Then they came and said: If we do not ask you, then whom should we ask? You are the most respected companion in this area, and we do not find anyone better than you! He said: I exercise ijtihad; if I am correct, then it is from Allah, the One without partner; if I err, then it is from me and Satan, and Allah and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم are free from it. According to me, she is entitled to a dower equal to the customary amount without any decrease or increase and is entitled to inheritance; she will observe the waiting period of four months and ten days.”
Some people from the Banu Amjam’ tribe were listening to this fatwa and immediately said: By Allah! You have given a prophetic ruling; the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم also gave the same ruling regarding a woman from our tribe named Baroo’ bint Washiq. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas’ud رضي الله عنه was not seen so happy and cheerful except on that day and the day he accepted Islam.
Imam Ibn Hibban رحمه الله (4101) graded this hadith as authentic, and Imam Hakim رحمه الله (110) declared it authentic according to Imam Muslim’s conditions. Hafiz Dhahabi رحمه الله agreed with their grading.
Benefit:
Amir San’ani رحمه الله says:
وَالْحَدِيثُ دَلِيلٌ عَلَى أَنَّ الْمَرْأَةَ تَسْتَحِقُّقُ كَمَالَ الْمَهْرِ بِالْمَوْتِ ، وَإِنْ لَمْ يُسَمِّ لَهَا الزَّوْجُ ، وَلَا دَخَلَ بِهَا ، وَتَسْتَحِقُّ مَهْرَ مِثْلِهَا .
“This hadith is evidence that upon the death of the husband, the woman is entitled to the dower; if the husband did not set a dower and there was no consummation, then she is entitled to a dower equal to the customary amount.”
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Question: The dower was fixed, the marriage took place, the conjugal privacy was not established, and then divorce was given. How much dower should be given to the woman?
Answer:
If the dower was fixed, but intercourse did not take place after the marriage and divorce was given, then half of the dower must be paid. The command of Allah the Exalted is:
﴿وَإِن طَلَّقْتُمُوهُنَّ مِنْ قَبْل أَن تَمَسُّوهُنَّ وَقَدْ فَرَضْتُمْ لَهُنَّ فَرِيضَةً فَنِصْفُ مَا فَرَضْتُمْ إِلَّا أَن يَعْفُونَ أَوْ يَعْفُوَ الَّذِي بِيَدِم عُقْدَةُ النِّكَاحِ وَأَنْ تَعْفُوا أَقْرَبُ لِلتَّقْوى وَلَا تَنْسَوُا الْفَضْلَ
بَيْنَكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ .﴾
“You have divorced your wife before intercourse, the dower right was fixed, so the wife is entitled to half the dower. However, if the wife waives her share or the husband gives the remaining half as well, that is another matter. If you give the remainder as well, it shows the degree of piety. Do not forget kindness among yourselves. Allah is watching your deeds.”
