The Book of Marriage

كتاب النكاح

Chapter 60: Ash-Shighar

It was narrated from 'Imran bin Husain that the Messenger of Allah said

"There is no 'bringing', no 'avoidance' and no Shighar in Islam, and whoever robs, he is not one of us."

It was narrated that Anas said

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'There is no 'bringing', no 'avoidance' and no Shighar in Islam, and whoever robs, he is not one of us.'"

Chapter 61: Explanation Of Ash-Shighar

It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah forbade Ash-Shighar. Ash-Shighar means when a man marries his daughter to another man, on the condition that that man marries his daughter to him, and no dowry is exchanged between them.

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The Messenger of Allah forbade Ash-Shighar." (One of the narrators) 'Ubaidullah said: "Ash-Shighar means when a man gives his daughter in marriage on condition that (the other man) gives him his sister in marriage."

Chapter 62: Marriage For Surahs Of The Qur'an

It was narrated from Sahl bin Sa'd that a woman came to the Messenger of Allah and said

"O Messenger of Allah, I have come to offer myself to you (in marriage)." The Messenger of Allah looked her up and down then lowered his head. When the woman saw that he was not saying anything about her, she sat down. A man among his Companions stood up and said: "O Messenger of Allah, if you do not want to marry her, then marry me to her." He said: "Do you have anything?" He said: "No, by Allah, I do not have anything." He said: "Look, even if it is only an iron ring." He went, then he came back and said: "No, by Allah, O Messenger of Allah, not even an iron ring, but this is my Izar (lower garment)" - Sahl said: "He did not have a Rida' (upper garment)" - "she can have half of it." The Messenger of Allah said: "What could she do with your Izar? If you wear it, she will not have any of it, and if she wears it, you will not have any of it." The man sat down for a long time, then he got up, and the Messenger of Allah saw him leaving, so he ordered that he be called back. When he came, he said: "What do you know of the Qur'an?" He said: "I know Surah such-and-such, and Surah such-and-such," and listed them. He said: "Can you recite them by heart?" He said: "Yes." He said: "Then I marry you to her on the basis of what you know of the Qur'an."

Chapter 63: Marriage For Islam

It was narrated that Anas said

"Abu Talhah married Umm Sulaim and the dowry between them was Islam. Umm Sulaim became Muslim before Abu Talhah, and he proposed to her but she said: 'I have become Muslim; if you become Muslim I will marry you.' So he became Muslim, and that was the dowry between them."

It was narrated that Anas said

"Abu Talhah proposed marriage to Umm Sulaim and she said: 'By Allah, a man like you is not to be rejected, O Abu Talhah, but you are a disbeliever and I am a Muslim, and it is not permissible for me to marry you. If you become Muslim, that will be my dowry, and I will not ask you for anything else.' So he became Muslim and that was her dowry." (one of the narrators) Thabit said: "I have never heard of a woman whose dowry was more precious than Umm Sulaim (whose dowry was) Islam. And he consummated the marriage with her, and she bore him a child."

Chapter 64: Marriage For Manumission

It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah manumitted Safiyyah and made that her dowry.

It was narrated from Anas that the Messenger of Allah manumitted Safiyyah and made her freedom her dowry.

Chapter 65: A Man Manumitting His Slave Woman, Then Marrying Her

It was narrated that Abu Musa said

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'There are three who will be given a twofold reward: A man who has a slave woman whom he disciplines and disciplines her well, and teaches and teaches her well, then he manumits her and marries her; a slave who fulfills his duty toward Allah and toward his masters; and a believer from among the People of the Book.'"

It was narrated that Abu Musa said

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever manumits his female slave, then marries her, he will have two rewards.'"

Chapter 66: Fairness In Giving Dowries

'Urwah bin Az-Zubair narrated that he asked 'Aishah about the saying of Allah, the Mighty and Sublime

"And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with the orphan girls then marry (other) women of your choice." She said: "O son of my sister, this refers to a female orphan who is in the care of her guardian, and her wealth is joined to his, and he is attracted to her wealth and her beauty. So her guardian wants to marry her without being fair with regard to her dowry, and without giving her what someone else would give her. So they were forbidden to marry them unless they were fair to them and gave them the highest possible dowry that is customarily given, and they were commanded to marry other women of their choice." 'Urwah said: "'Aishah said: 'Then later on, Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, revealed concerning them: 'They ask your legal instruction concerning women, say: Allah instructs you about them, and about what is recited unto you in the Book concerning the orphan girls whom you give not the prescribed portions and yet whom you desire to marry.' 'Aishah said: 'What Allah, Most High, mentioned here that is recited in the Book is the first Verse in which it says: And if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly with orphan girls then marry (other) women of your choice.' 'Aishah said: 'What is referred to in the other Verse -and yet whom you desire to marry- is the desire of one of you not to marry orphan girl who is under his care if she is lacking in wealth and beauty. So they were forbidden to marry those orphan women to whose wealth they were attracted unless they were fair, because of their desire not to marry (those who were lacking in wealth and beauty.)'"

It was narrated that Abu Salamah said

"I asked 'Aishah about that and she said: 'The Messenger of Allah got married (and married his daughters) for twelve Uqiyah and a Nashsh'" which is five hundred Dirhams.

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said

"The dowry, when the Messenger of Allah was among us, was ten Awaq."

It was narrated that Abu Al-'Ajfa' said

"Umar bin Al-Khattab said: 'Do not go to extremes with regard to the dowries of women, for if that were a sign of honor and dignity in this world, or a sign of piety before Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, then Muhammad would have done that before you. But he did not give any of his wives, and none of his daughters were given, more than twelve Uqiyyah. A man may increase the dowry until he feels resentment against her and says: You cost me everything I own ('Alaqul-Qirbah)'" "And I was a man born among the 'Arabs, but I did not know the meaning of 'Alaqul-Qirbah' and others of you are saying -about those killed in this or that battle of yours, or who died: 'So-and-so was martyred' or 'so and so died as a martyr.' While perhaps he merely overloaded the backside of his beast, or lined his saddle with gold or silver seeking trade. So do not say that, rather say as the Prophet said: 'Whoever is killed in the cause of Allah, or dies, then he is in Paradise.'"

It was narrated from Umm Habibah that the Messenger of Allah married her when she was in Ethiopia. An-NajaShi performed the marriage for her and gave her a dowry of four thousand, and he fitted her out from his own wealth, and sent her with Shurahbil bin Hasanah. The Messenger of Allah did not send her anything, and the dowry of his wives was four hundred Dirhams.

Chapter 67: Marriage For A Nawah Of Gold (Five Dirhams)

It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf came to the Prophet with traces of yellow perfume on him. The Messenger of Allah asked him (about that) and he told him that he had married a woman from among the Ansar. The Messenger of Allah said

"How much did you give her?" He said: "A Nawah (five Dirhams) of gold." The Messenger of Allah said: "Give a Walimah (wedding feast) even if it is with one sheep."

'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Awf said

"The Messenger of Allah saw me looking cheerful as I had just got married." I said: "I have gotten married to a woman of the Ansar." He said: "How much did you give her as a dowry?" He said: "A Nawah (five Dirhams) of gold."

It was narrated from 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Amr

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whatever is given as a dowry, or gift or is promised her before the marriage belongs to her. Whatever is given after the marriage belongs to the one to whom it was given. And the most deserving for which a (man) is to be honored is (when marrying off) his daughter or sister.'" This is the wording of 'Abdullah (one of the narrators).

Chapter 68: Permission To Get Married Without A Dowry

It was narrated that 'Alqamah and Al-Aswad said

"A man was brought to 'Abdullah who had married a woman without naming a dowry for her, then he died before consummating the marriage with her. 'Abdullah said: 'Ask whether they can find any report about that.' They said: 'O Abu 'Abdur-Rahman, we cannot find any report about that.' He said: 'I will say what I think, and if it is correct then it is from Allah. She should have a dowry like that of her peers and no less, with no injustice, and she may inherit from him, and she has to observe the 'Iddah.' A man from Ashja' stood up and said: "The Messenger of Allah passed a similar judgment among us concerning a woman called Birwa' bint Washiq. She married a man who died before consummating the marriage with her, and the Messenger of Allah ruled that she should be given a dowry like that of her peers, and she could inherit, and she had to observe the 'Iddah.' 'Abdullah raised his hands and said the Takbir."