Sunan an-Nasa'i 3358

Ali ibn Hujr reported to us; he said: Ali ibn Mushir narrated to us, from Dawud ibn Abi Hind, from al-Sha'bi, from Alqamah, from Abd Allah: Some people came to him and said, ‘A man among us married a woman without specifying a dower or consummating the marriage with her, then died.’ Abd Allah said, ‘Since I parted from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), I have not been asked anything harder than this. Ask someone else.’ They disputed the matter before him for a month. At the end they said, ‘Whom should we ask if not you? You are among the most distinguished Companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in this town, and we know no one else.’ He said, ‘I will give my best considered opinion. If it is correct, it is from Allah alone, who has no partner; if it is wrong, it is from me and Satan, and Allah and His Messenger are free of it. I think she should receive a dower equal to that of women like her, neither less nor excessive; she is entitled to inheritance, and she must observe a waiting period of four months and ten days.’ People from Ashja' heard this. They stood and said, ‘We testify that you have ruled as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ruled concerning a woman among us named Barwa' bint Washiq.’ He said: Abd Allah was never seen happier on a day than that day, except for the day he embraced Islam.