Dowry - Can be eradicated if the youth stand up against it

Through the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah has ordered us to earn our livelihood through permissible means and to always speak the truth.  The Lord Almighty has also ordered us to desist from garnering wealth through forbidden means.  In the present times, people are progressing in terms of science and technology, but in terms of culture, character, etc., they have fallen prey to regression instead.

 

A custom which is destroying the society is “dowry,” which has become a festering wound for our society.  It is highly necessary that we eradicate this vile custom from our society.  Demanding dowry is bad from both the religious and social points of view.  Wherever this abhorrent custom has taken root, people are facing lots of difficulties.  The demands of dowry have increased to such an extent that let alone a layperson; even those with middle-level incomes aren’t able to fulfill them.  In such trying circumstances, the guardians either end up committing suicide or else resort to interest-based loans.  Some people even end up blaspheming.  Because of this vile custom, many girls have been waiting forever to get married, as the parents can’t afford to fulfill the demands of dowry.  Even if the girls step on to the wrong path, the parents can’t stop them.  Out of the fear of not being able to fulfill the demands of dowry, people are putting even a great form of worship like Hajj on the backburner.

 

These are the words of Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshbandi Qadri, Professor, Islamic Law, Jamia Nizamia, Founder-Director, Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center in the weekly lecture conducted under the aegis of Abul Hasanaat Islamic Research Center at Masjid Abul Hasanaat, Jahanuma.

 

The revered Mufti said marriage is the means of procreation of species.  Marriage safeguards one’s honor and chastity.  Marriage should be cleansed of un-Islamic customs and should be performed as per the Sunnah.  He said that in the whole history of Islam, there is no record of any Companion demanding dowry.  This is in fact borrowed from other cultures, which is destroying the Muslim society.  In other cultures, since the daughter had no share in inheritance after the passing away of the parents, the father gives a lot of dowry to the daughter and after the father’s death the daughter doesn’t receive any share in his inheritance.  However, Islam has given women the right to inherit.

 

The revered Mufti said that it is not permissible for any person to beg of somebody without an acute need.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  It is not permissible for a wealthy or a person without any physical handicap to beg, except for a person who is very poor or is in acute need and those people who ask of people only to increase their wealth, then this act of theirs will be revealed on the Day of Judgment in the form of scratches and cuts on their faces and will be expressed in the form of the fire of hell which that person will eat.  Now one can either increase this punishment or decrease it.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi, Hadith No. 590)

 

The Jurists have clarified that if the bride’s folks demand money from the groom, then that money will come under bribe.  In the same way, the groom’s folks demanding dowry from the bride’s folks is also impermissible and forbidden.  Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:

 

O believers! Do not devour one another’s wealth unlawfully amongst yourselves unless it is a trade by your mutual agreement and do not kill yourselves. Surely, Allah is Kind to you.  Surah Nisa (4:29)

 

The revered Mufti said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) made people bearers of high moral and granted them magnanimity.  He transformed the people in such a manner that who asked of others became those who granted others.  The Mufti quoted a Hadith from Sharh Ma’ani Ul Aathaar that a certain Companion came to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and said: The condition of my house is such by the time I go from here, somebody or the other will die of hunger.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) asked him:  What do you have?  The Companion said:  I have a cup and a straw mat.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) called out:  Is there anyone among you who will buy these things for 1 Dirham?  A Companion bought it for 2 Dirhams. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) then said to him:  With 1 Dirham, take food for your family.  With the other Dirham, buy an axe, cut wood from the forest and sell it.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) Himself fixed the axe-head in the handle and told him to come after 10 days.  The Companion returned after 10 days and said:  Now my life is blessed.

 

The revered Mufti said that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t permit the Companion to beg even in such grave circumstances and taught him to take care of his family by honest work.  He said that if the youth resolve not to demand dowry, come what may, then this evil will be eradicated from our society for good.  The session ended with Salaam and Dua.  Maulana Hafidh Syed Ahmed Ghouri, Teacher, Jamia Nizamia, led the proceedings.