The Book of Dowry (Sadaq)
The basis for its legality is the Book [of Allah], the Sunnah, and consensus (ijma'). As for the Book, it is His saying, the Exalted: "And lawful to you are [all others] beyond these, [provided] that you seek them [in marriage] with [gifts from] your property, desiring chastity, not unlawful sexual intercourse" (An-Nisa: 24). And He, the Exalted, said: "And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously" (An-Nisa: 4). Abu 'Ubayd said: "This means willingly, by way of the obligation which Allah, the Exalted, has imposed." It is also said that 'niḥlah' means a gift, and the dowry (sadaq) shares its meaning; for each of the spouses derives pleasure from the other, and the dowry was assigned to the woman, so it is as if it were a gift without a [physical] substitute. It is also said: [it is] a gift from Allah, the Exalted, to the women. And He, the Exalted, said: "So give them their compensation as an obligation" (An-Nisa: 24). As for the Sunnah, it is narrated by Anas that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saw a trace of yellow perfume (za'faran) on 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, so the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "What is this?" He replied: "O Messenger of Allah, I have married a woman." He said: "What did you give her as a dowry?" He said: "The weight of a date stone of gold." He said: "May Allah bless you, hold a wedding feast (walimah), even if with a sheep." And from him [also], that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) manumitted Safiyyah and made her manumission her dowry. Both are agreed upon. The Muslims are in consensus regarding the legality of the dowry in marriage.
Section: The dowry has nine names: al-sadaq, al-saduqah, al-mahr, al-nihlah, al-faridah, al-ajr, al-'ala'iq, al-'uqr, and al-hiba'. It was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: "Fulfill the 'ala'iq." It was said: "O Messenger of Allah, what are the 'ala'iq?" He said: "What the families agree upon."
(1) Surat An-Nisa: 24. (2) In [MSS] B and M: "faraḍa". (3) 'Rad'u za'faran': a stain of it or its mark on his body. (4) 'Mahyam': what is your affair and your condition, or what is behind you? (5) The authentication of the first has preceded in: 9/470, and the second in: 9/348. (6) In [MS] M: "yataraḍḍa".
