The concept of dowry that has become a part of modern marriage tradition in many Muslim countries has absolutely no basis in Islam. Despite this, it is still practiced by many Muslims all over the world , particularly in Pakistan, Bangladesh and India. In the Indian Subcontinent, the custom of Jahez (dowry) was practiced by those families who did not wish to give any share of their family property to women. As an alternative, they would give household goods, clothes and payments to their daughters. Islam does not order such a custom, and instead, has dictated a proper system of inheritance that applies to women. Most Islamic scholars agree that the concept of dowry should be avoided because it places extra financial burden on the family of a girl who is getting married. Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said, “The most blessed marriage is the one in which the marriage partners place the least burden on each other.”
Although dowry is often misconceived by many as an Islamic tradition, its basis lies in culture and not religion. It should be noted that Islam does not say explicitly that the giving of dowry is haram, nor does it appreciate such practices. Once can derive from other Islamic principles that dowry should be avoided because it tends to become a barrier in the marriage of a lot of people who cannot afford to spend huge amounts on dowry. The roots of this practice are so deepened in many Muslim societies society that people are forced to bear immense financial burdens so as to ensure that their daughters get married.
A research conducted by University of Bath in Bangladesh reveals that one quarter of the total country’s population is suffering from poverty and hunger. One of the major reasons that expand poverty is the custom of “dowry” because people are forced to pay dowry in amounts much greater than their family incomes, just to follow the old family traditions. The average income is around 100 Taka, whereas the dowry payment of one daughter is more than 20,000 Taka. This clearly shows how burdening this practice is becoming for Muslims in an increasingly expensive world.
Islam is a religion known for promoting simplicity and discouraging lavishness, extraordinary feasts and ceremonies. Prophet Muhammad’s four daughters got married without any dowry. He gave extremely diffident household objects – a sheet, a leather water-bag, and a pillow satiated with grass and fiber to his daughter Fatima on her marriage. If dowry had been an Islamic practice, it would have been encouraged by the traditions of Prophet Muhammad too. Therefore, Muslims should stop adopting such cultural practices that have not been advised by their religion.
On the other hand, instead of dowry, Islam declares “mahr” as an essential part of the marriage contract. This means that the husband must give a certain amount of money, possessions or property to his wife as a gift. Although the “mahr” does not strictly apply to everyone who cannot afford it financially, Allah says,
“…the wealthy according to his means, and the straitened in circumstances according to his means. The gift of a reasonable amount is necessary from those who wish to act in the right way.’ (2:236).
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