Concept of Dowry in Islam. In the days of ignorance before the arrival of Islam, the dowry and other social evils were plaguing the societies like a menace. Islam has legislated the giving of the dower by the husband to the wife in order to please the woman’s heart and to honour her.  In order to rob the females of their wealth and to make their families suffer, the dowry was an exploitation in the past.  The dower is the right of a wife and no other relatives are permittied in Islam to have any share of it.  She can use it according to her wish or lend it to others.

The purpose of the marriage is not to provide wealth to the family of husband and make the family of wife suffer. This tradition is still prevailing in the societies where women are required to furnish heavey jewelery, furniture, electronics and so many goods for household in order to get into the agreement of marriage.

The Evil of Dowry

This tradition is against the nature and teachings of Islam. This behavior is only harming the societies therefore not recommended in Islam.  The worst thing happening to women is that they are not able to get married when they dont have enough wealth to please their husband’s families. This is an evil the Islam condemns in the society, this does not honor the women and makes her feel like she is indebted to her husband. This is totally un-Islamic and immoral injustice.

Islam encourages to practice the marriage in a peaceful and simple way. The fluent display of wealth and lavish dowry is contrarty to the principles of Islam.  They are also not in accordance with the Hadith and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. His favorite daughter Fatimah  was married but the prophet did not gave her any lavish dowry or precious belongings.

Mahr (The Dower)

Islam is a balanced religion, it gives the society the successful values to treat each other equally. Men are responsible primarily for financing.

Allah Says (what means): “Men are in charge of women by [right of] what [qualities] Allah has given one over the other and what they spend [in support] from their wealth. So righteous women are devoutly obedient, guarding in [the husband’s] absence what Allah would have them guard…” [Quran 4:34]

Concept of Dowry in Islam. Mehr is a permitted act during marriage in which the husband hands over to the bride a sum of money called Mahr (dower). This is a tokken of acceptance  and the proof of bearing her expenses to serve the needs of wife in the modern times. Either groom can hand it over to his bride at the time of marriage, or the second way to give Mehr is to give it after the marriage . The holy prophet’s family example is the best in this case in which he pleased Allah and asked Hazrat Ali to give the dowry to Fatimah and take her as her lawfully wedded wife.

Source: fatwa.islamweb.net/en/article/97117/islam-on-dowry