All readers! Are you looking for an explanation of “how to calculate dowry in Islam?”? If your answer is “Yes”, congratulations! Now you are reading the right article. Why? Because that is what I will explain in this article. As Muslims, we must understand that. That’s why I wrote this article. So, you should read it to the end!
Specifically, there are two important points about “how to calculate dowry in Islam?” which I will explain in this article. Two important things I mean are as follows:
Hadith About Minimum Dowry in Islam
The first important thing about “how to calculate dowry in Islam?” what I will explain now is hadith about minimum dowry in Islam. I want you to understand that first before you read any more explanations in this article. Why?
In Islam, hadith is one of the main references for Muslims after the Quran. The point is that the hadith explains the Quran. In addition, in the hadith there are legal explanations that are not in the Quran.
In the Quran there are many explanations about dowry. But the explanation is very general. Some examples of Quranic verses that explain dowry are as follows:
وَاٰتُوا النِّسَاۤءَ صَدُقٰتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً ۗ فَاِنْ طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوْهُ هَنِيْۤـًٔا مَّرِيْۤـًٔا
And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease. (An-Nisa’ [4]; 4).
وَاِنْ اَرَدْتُّمُ اسْتِبْدَالَ زَوْجٍ مَّكَانَ زَوْجٍۙ وَّاٰتَيْتُمْ اِحْدٰىهُنَّ قِنْطَارًا فَلَا تَأْخُذُوْا مِنْهُ شَيْـًٔا ۗ اَتَأْخُذُوْنَهٗ بُهْتَانًا وَّاِثْمًا مُّبِيْنًا
But if you want to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a great amount [in gifts], do not take [back] from it anything. Would you take it in injustice and manifest sin? (An-Nisa’ [4]; 20).
وَكَيْفَ تَأْخُذُوْنَهٗ وَقَدْ اَفْضٰى بَعْضُكُمْ اِلٰى بَعْضٍ وَّاَخَذْنَ مِنْكُمْ مِّيْثَاقًا غَلِيْظًا
And how could you take it while you have gone in unto each other and they have taken from you a solemn covenant? (An-Nisa’ [4]; 21).
If we read some of the verses of the Quran above, we only get an explanation that dowry is something that a husband must give to his wife after the marriage contract (aqd an-Nikah). We do not know how much dowry should be given or the minimum dowry should be given. That’s why we need the explanation from other references. Another reference I mean is the hadith.
Actually, there are many hadiths that explain the minimum dowry in Islam. Of course, I’m not going to explain all of that now. In this article, I will explain only two hadiths.
As for the two hadiths about the minimum dowry in Islam, what I mean is as follows:
وَعَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : خَيْرُ الصَّدَاقِ أَيْسَرُهُ . أَيْ أَسْهَلُهُ عَلَى الرَّجُلِ
From Uqbah bin Amir radliyallahu anhu, he said, “The Messenger of Allah (Prophet Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, “The best dowry is the easiest.” (meaning: the best dowry is the one that does not trouble men).
خَيْرُ الصَّدَاقِ أَيْسَرُهُ
The best dowry is the easiest.
All readers! If we understand the two hadiths above, we can conclude that the best dowry in Islam is the least. The point is that Muslim women should not make it difficult for their future husbands with dowry.
So, there is no minimum dowry in Islam. Islam teaches Muslim women not to ask for a dowry that makes it difficult for their future husband. Why? Because a good marriage in Islam is the easiest marriage, not a marriage that makes it difficult for Muslims to marry.
We can find this explanation in the hadith below:
خَيْرُ النِّكَاحِ أَيْسَرُهُ
The best marriage is the easiest (not burdensome to the person who will marry).
That is a brief explanation of the hadith about minimum dowry in Islam. As Muslims, we must understand that.
Read Also:
How to Calculate Dowry in Islam?
The second important point about “how to calculate dowry in Islam?” what I’m going to explain now is a specific answer. I want you to understand that well. So, you should read the explanation below carefully.
In the previous paragraphs, I have explained that the best dowry in Islam is the one that does not trouble the prospective husband because the best marriage in Islam is the easiest marriage. So, if we want to calculate dowry in Islam, then what we must understand is the ability of the prospective husband to give the dowry that his future wife asks for.
So, if the prospective husband is able to give a dowry of $100 US, then the Muslim woman who will become his wife may ask for it. If the prospective husband is only able to give $50 US, then the Muslim woman who will become his wife cannot ask for more. That’s how to calculate dowry in Islam.
Again, the husband’s ability to give dowry should be the main thing to consider.
That’s a brief explanation of “how to calculate dowry in Islam?” and some important things about it. Do you understand? If you want to ask, please ask!
I think that’s enough for this article. Hope it is useful. Amen.
See you again in the next article!
