Woman Between Islam and Western Society
9. Dowry
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There is a body of opinion among certain Muslims
which has it that
jahaz
is the
sunnah
(way) of the
Prophet, because he himself gave his daughter,
Fatimah, a “dowry” on the occasion of her marriage
to ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib.
FATIMAH’S DOWRY
As a justification for giving dowry, in the modem
sense of the word, this proposition is clearly
unacceptable, for, according to early records, the
“dowry” which the Prophet gave to Fatimah
consisted of only the barest of household
necessities.
According to ‘ Ali ibn Abi Talib, the Prophet
Muhammad prepared for Fatimah a sheet, a leather
bag for carrying water, and a pillow filled by
idkhar
(grass).
1
Abdullah ibn ‘Amr, enumerates them as a
khamil
(a
single sheet of cloth), a leather bag for carrying
water and an
idkhar
filled pillow made of leather.
2
Asma, the daughter of ‘Umyas, relates that when
Fatimah left for ‘Ali’ s house, it was quite
