Marriage Dower in Islam

Within the framework of a marital agreement, Islam delineates the responsibilities and privileges of both spouses. This encompasses the 'duty of reciprocal kindness,' yet also specifies roles distinct to each gender.

One of these rights and duties is the 'obligation to bear the family expenses'. This is the obligation of the husband, and he must provide for all the necessary needs of his wife.

What is a dower?

In Islamic law, a dower is a sum of money or property that a husband pays to his wife at the beginning of her marriage. This property can range from a token sum to substantial wealth and is legally hers, and she may save, spend, or invest it as she sees fit.

The reason for dower is that in Islamic jurisprudence, a husband and wife are considered to be interdependent, with certain rights and duties being owed by each spouse to the other. A failure by either to perform a duty can cause the other to lose that right.

This is a point that is often forgotten by people who are not familiar with the Islamic system of divorce and the dower. It is also a point that should be emphasized by those who are considering a change in the Islamic legal system, so as to make it more compatible with the demands of justice and equality of human rights that have emerged over the past century.

One of the most important features of the Islamic dower is that it does not involve the deprivation of economic rights by the husband. If the man were to derive financial benefit from his wife or exploit her in any other way, that would be a violation of her economic independence and freedom, and it would not be reasonable.

Similarly, the husband does not have to derive any physical benefit from his wife or exploit her in any way, and this is another important feature of the Islamic dower.

The dower is not the wages for having brought her up, nursed her and fed her, and it is not the money that she was given at birth, or the clothes she wore, and this makes it clear that there is no reason to give dower to the father of a girl as this is against the very purpose of her being created in Islam.

The Qur'an made these changes in the dower customs and laws of the time, much against the will of the people of those days, but it could have completely annulled them, and then it would have lost its rationale. In addition, if the legal provisions of the Civil Law were changed so that divorce was no longer a matter of the will and fancy of the man, dower would have ceased to be a legitimate means for a husband to claim his wife's economic independence.

What is a Nikkah?

In Islam, a Nikkah is a religious ceremony where a couple legitimizes their marriage. This is done in the presence of an imam and 2 male witnesses. It is a simple, yet important ritual that signifies the start of a new journey for two people.

In order to have a successful Islamic wedding, the Nikah must be performed correctly. There are a few Qu'ranic requirements that must be met to ensure the marriage is legal in the eyes of God.

One of these requirements is for the bride to have consented to the marriage and the groom to have accepted her. To make sure the bride does indeed give consent, a minimum of 2 male witnesses must be present during the Nikah.

If the Nikah is held at a mosque, men and women are segregated during the ceremony. However, this isn't always the case and depends on the couples' culture or level of religiosity.

The Nikah also requires the husband to give a sum of money to his wife called meher. This meher ensures that the wife will be able to support herself in the marriage. The amount of meher can vary from bride to bride, but it is usually fixed to meet her demands and requirements.

It is also important to pay the meher on time and within a reasonable amount of time. This is so that the wife doesn't have to spend her life savings on her marriage.

Traditionally, the bride's parents would select and buy a ring for her but in modern times both the bride and groom are more choosy about rings than their parents were. Therefore, the ring can be given to the bride by her family after the nikah or it may be bought by the couple themselves.

To celebrate the Nikah, the couple usually have a traditional wedding reception after the ceremony. This may take place at the bride and groom's home or at a location close to the ceremony. The reception usually includes sweets and the usual Islamic staple food such as dates.

What is the obligation of the husband?

In Islam, husbands are regarded as the guardians of their families. Their responsibilities are to provide for the welfare and well-being of their wives and children, safeguarding how wealth is spent, and ensuring that their wives can fulfill their rights as wife and mother.

This is a very important role which, if not fulfilled properly, could lead to unsatisfactory and unhappy married life. It is therefore essential that men should not be overly strict with their women as this might drive them towards disobedience or even corruption, which would have a negative impact on their family relationships.

A man's responsibility for his wife includes keeping her clean and tidy, arranging her clothing, and making sure she stays healthy. He should also be able to help her out financially if she is in need of assistance.

The best way to achieve this is by showing her a lot of respect and care and treating her like she is the most valuable thing in his life. This will also make her feel happy about herself and, as a result, her behaviour will improve.

In addition, the Qur'an states that men should take care to keep their house clean and orderly. This is not only an Islamic obligation but a good deed which will be greatly appreciated by the spouse and others who visit them.

Another very important responsibility of a Muslim husband is to protect his wife and children from harm, especially from evil people. This should be done through education, good advice and logically pointing out to her the potential harms of doing things wrong.

This is the most difficult duty of a husband. It is necessary that he be patient with his wife in this regard as she will not be receptive to advice and guidance at first.

However, if she persists in her actions and he feels that it is time to take a firm stand, he should first logically explain to her the harms of her behaviour.

What is the obligation of the wife?

In Islam, the wife has certain duties toward her husband. Those are based on the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. Some of these duties are financial and others are non-financial. The most important of these is obedience to her husband in matters of halal.

The obligation of a woman in Islam includes being submissive, obedient and respectful to her husband. These are the basic qualities that are needed to establish a happy Islamic marriage and family.

It is also necessary for a woman to be grateful to her husband and appreciative of all the things that he does for her. She should also be patient with her husband and not get angry if he is not willing to give her what she wants.

Another obligation of a Muslim wife is to protect her honor and not allow people to talk negatively about her behind her back. This is a right of every Muslim and it is especially important for the wife.

A wife should also be obedient to her husband regarding his spending. She should not spend her wealth on herself or on her husband and children unless she is asked to by her husband.

The husband has a duty to provide for his wife and children, including food, shelter and clothing. This responsibility is an essential one and it is not something that can be easily taken away by the wife if she wishes to do so.

Moreover, the husband has an obligation to make sure that he provides for his wife and children in a manner that is not harmful to them or to their health. He should do this by providing them with a good lifestyle, keeping their home safe and by taking care of their needs in a proper way.

It is also a man's duty to provide for his wife's spiritual and intellectual needs. This means that he should not neglect her study or social life.

He should also be obedient to his wife with regard to her sexual relations. He should not abuse her or let other men enter her house unless he is asked to do so by her.

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