Woman in Islamic Shari‘ah
9. Dowry
~ 202 ~
Certainly, in the case of dowry, Muslims have
unashamedly adopted a Hindu custom. Similarly,
other rites performed during Muslim marriages have
been derived from the customs of other nations. If
Muslims suppose that just taking a pride in Islam is
the sole prerequisite for their being honored in the
court of God, they will eventually have to do
penance for having entertained such a grave
misconception. They would do well to reflect upon
how the Jews took enormous pride in the
shari’ah
of
the Prophet Moses, without this, however
preventing them from being cursed by the Almighty.
MAHR – THE DOWER
Islam has successfully maintained an even balance
in society between men and women by giving its
unequivocal endorsement to a practical division of
labor, whereby women are placed in charge of the
internal arrangement of the household, while men
are responsible for its financing. The home is thus
organized on the pattern of a microcosmic estate,
with the man in a position of authority. The Qur’an
is specific on this issue:
Men are the protectors and maintainers of
