Dangers of High Dowries in Islam
A person should make their
greatest concern in marriage the
religion and character of the suitor, for this is where the true blessing lies.
Just as one should examine the man’s faith and manners, one must also look at
the woman’s faith, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “A woman is married for four things, i.e., her wealth,
her family status, her beauty and her religion. So you should marry the
religious woman (otherwise) you will be a losers.”
The Danger of Excessive Dowries
Nowadays, people often refuse to
marry unless the dowry is
extremely high, and this poses a serious danger to the Ummah for several
reasons:
1.
Loss of Blessing in Marriage
When dowries become burdensome,
the blessing is removed from the marriage, for the Prophet (peace be upon him)
said: “The marriage which produces most blessing
is that which involves least burden.”
2.
Turning Away from Local Women
High dowries cause people to
avoid marrying women from their own country and instead seek marriage from
abroad, as is the case today — because foreign marriages are often less
expensive for reasons not necessary to mention here.
However, it is well known that
marrying from outside one’s country leads to many complications, since marriage
carries numerous legal and social implications such as lineage, inheritance,
and family relations.
This, in turn, leads to future
problems. Many who married from abroad have regretted their decisions, but only
after it was too late — once they already had children and offspring.
3.
The Rise of Immorality
When marriage among local women
decreases, moral corruption becomes inevitable. Just as men need marriage, so does women
— and when this natural need is unmet, it becomes a cause for fornication and
immorality, Allah forbid.
4.
The Cultural and Moral Risks of Foreign Marriages
A woman brought from abroad may
carry customs, morals, or beliefs that
could corrupt her husband and children. Though some of them may indeed possess
good character and virtue, the risk remains high.
Therefore, we warn against
excessive dowries, and we say again: “The
marriage which produces most blessing is that which involves least burden.”
5.
The Betrayal of Guardians Who Reject Suitable Men
If a woman’s guardian rejects a
suitor who is religiously and morally suitable, without another better proposal
in sight, he has betrayed his trust and wronged his ward.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be
upon him), who is the guardian of this Ummah through his guidance and direction,
guided to marry who is religiously and morally suitable. To go against this
command is to oppose his guidance.
On the other hand, if a guardian
chooses for his daughter, sister, or relative a man who does not pray, he has
committed a grave mistake, for a man who abandons prayer cannot be married off
under any circumstance, no matter his manners, wealth, or looks.
If he already has a wife and
abandons prayer, the marriage contract must be annulled, for by leaving prayer
he becomes a disbeliever who has left the religion of Allah.
Allah the Almighty Says, {Then do not send them back to the disbelievers. These ˹women˺ are not lawful ˹wives˺ for the disbelievers, nor are the disbelievers lawful ˹husbands˺ for them.} [Al-Mumtahanah 60:10]
Similarly, if a guardian chooses
for his ward a corrupt man with bad character, he has betrayed her.
Many women today complain about
this issue, they are married off to men who are not suitable in religion or
character, resulting in hardship, misery, and endless suffering. May Allah Guide
everyone.
Also Read:
- Why Is Marriage Becoming More Difficult?
- Crisis in Marriage Law
- Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a Husband
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