Marriage (Kitab Al-Nikah) - Sunan Abi Dawud 2126

When Ali married Fatimah, daughter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he intended to have intercourse with her. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited him to do so until he gave her something. Ali said: I have nothing with me, Messenger of Allah. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: Give her your coat of mail. So he gave her his coat of mail, and then cohabited with her.

Scholarly Commentary

This narration establishes the obligation of mahr (dower) in Islamic marriage. The Prophet's prohibition demonstrates that mahr is a fundamental right of the wife and a condition for lawful conjugal relations.

The coat of mail, though modest, sufficed as mahr, indicating that the amount is not fixed but should be according to the husband's means. This reflects Islam's practical consideration of individual circumstances while upholding women's rights.

The incident shows that even the most esteemed companions were subject to Islamic law, emphasizing the equality of all Muslims before religious injunctions.

Legal Rulings Derived

Mahr is obligatory for marriage validity and must be given before consummation.

The mahr's value should be reasonable and proportionate to the husband's financial capacity.

Even symbolic gifts can fulfill the mahr requirement if accepted by the wife.

Conjugal relations are prohibited until the mahr is given, establishing it as the wife's exclusive right.