Woman Between Islam and Western Society
9. Dowry
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That is why the dowers of the Prophet and his
Companions were kept very low. According to the
records we have, there is no single instance of
anyone of them having fixed substantial dowers
either for himself or for his daughters.
THE COMPANIONS AND THEIR MARRIAGES
In the first era of Islam, marriage was a simple
affair, without pomp or ceremony. Any expenditure
incurred in its performance being quite minimal, it
did not become a burden on either family. The
wedding celebrations of the Companions were, in
keeping with this principle, quite free of any
ostentation. There is a saying of the Prophet that
“the most blessed marriage is one in which the
marriage partners place the least burden on each
other.”
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Certainly, the most trouble-free marriage is
one in which the existing resources are sufficient to
meet all normal requirements.
There was once a case of a certain individual having
become engaged without having anything to give
as dower. When this came to the attention of the
Prophet, he asked him over and over again if he
really had nothing to give. When the man replied in
