Woman Between Islam and Western Society
9. Dowry
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the negative, the Prophet, far from telling him that
he should borrow money and then get married,
asked him if he had not learned certain parts of the
Qur’an by heart. On receiving an affirmative
answer from him, the Prophet said, “I therefore
marry you to that woman. The dower you give will
be that part of the Qur’an which you have
committed to memory.”
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In other words, he should
have to teach that part of the Qur’an to his wife.
The simplicity which marked the occasion of
marriage in the days of the Prophet is well
illustrated by ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Auf, one of the
foremost of the Prophet’s Companions, who was
married in Medina with as little ceremony as
possible, not even thinking it necessary to invite the
Prophet or any of the Companions. Imam Ahmad
tells of how the Prophet came to know that ‘Abdur
Rahman was married: ‘Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Auf
came to the Prophet with the scent of saffron upon
him, and when the Prophet asked him about this, he
said, “I have married.” The Prophet then enquired
as to how much dower he had given his bride.
“Gold equal in weight to one date stone,” he
replied.
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