❀ Shar‘i Ruling on Dowry (Jahez) and Financial Assistance for It ❀
✦ Taken from: Fatāwā ʿUlamā’-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1
If a girl’s parents request financial help for dowry at the time of her marriage, should they be helped? Especially when dowry itself is not a praiseworthy act in Islam.
The word "Jahez" (dowry) comes from the Arabic root meaning "equipment or belongings."
In the cultural context of the Indian subcontinent, it refers to the items given by the bride’s family to her at the time of marriage.
However, this practice has Hindu cultural origins, and its inclusion in Muslim society has turned it into a social curse.
✔ Social Harm:
Many poor girls remain unmarried solely due to the inability to provide dowry.
✔ Injustice Against Women:
Girls are subjected to oppression over insufficient dowry — some are even murdered or burnt alive.
✔ Social Imbalance:
Today, wealth is given priority over human values, further deepening the dowry tradition.
Islam strongly condemns such injustices and societal excesses.
Islam is a religion of simplicity, and there is no place for the dowry tradition as practiced today.
The best “dowry” for a woman in Islam is her good character, education, and proper upbringing, not material possessions or wealth.
✔ Instead of giving financial assistance for dowry, it is preferable to support other necessary aspects of the marriage, such as food for guests or essential logistics.
✔ One must actively work to eliminate this harmful custom, and encourage seeking proposals that do not demand dowry.
➤ Providing household items is not the bride’s family’s responsibility; it is the husband’s obligation.
➤ Build relations with families who follow simplicity and Islamic values, and avoid those that insist on dowry.
① Financial help should not be given for dowry, but may be offered for other legitimate wedding needs.
② Actively oppose the dowry culture and promote simplicity and Islamic values in society.
③ A woman’s true value lies in her character and upbringing, not in material possessions.
Reference:
Islamic Teachings and Principles of Social Reform
✦ Taken from: Fatāwā ʿUlamā’-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Vol. 1
❖ Question:
If a girl’s parents request financial help for dowry at the time of her marriage, should they be helped? Especially when dowry itself is not a praiseworthy act in Islam.
❖ Answer:
✿ The Concept and Tradition of Dowry:
The word "Jahez" (dowry) comes from the Arabic root meaning "equipment or belongings."
In the cultural context of the Indian subcontinent, it refers to the items given by the bride’s family to her at the time of marriage.
However, this practice has Hindu cultural origins, and its inclusion in Muslim society has turned it into a social curse.
✿ Harmful Effects of the Dowry System:
✔ Social Harm:
Many poor girls remain unmarried solely due to the inability to provide dowry.
✔ Injustice Against Women:
Girls are subjected to oppression over insufficient dowry — some are even murdered or burnt alive.
✔ Social Imbalance:
Today, wealth is given priority over human values, further deepening the dowry tradition.
Islam strongly condemns such injustices and societal excesses.
✿ Islamic Perspective on Dowry:
Islam is a religion of simplicity, and there is no place for the dowry tradition as practiced today.
The best “dowry” for a woman in Islam is her good character, education, and proper upbringing, not material possessions or wealth.
✿ Ruling on Financial Assistance:
✔ Instead of giving financial assistance for dowry, it is preferable to support other necessary aspects of the marriage, such as food for guests or essential logistics.
✔ One must actively work to eliminate this harmful custom, and encourage seeking proposals that do not demand dowry.
✿ Advice for Poor Parents:
➤ Providing household items is not the bride’s family’s responsibility; it is the husband’s obligation.
➤ Build relations with families who follow simplicity and Islamic values, and avoid those that insist on dowry.
✔ Summary:
① Financial help should not be given for dowry, but may be offered for other legitimate wedding needs.
② Actively oppose the dowry culture and promote simplicity and Islamic values in society.
③ A woman’s true value lies in her character and upbringing, not in material possessions.
Reference:Islamic Teachings and Principles of Social Reform
