Why Haq-Mehar Has Been Made Compulsory For Nikah?
When a man and a woman pledge to marry, it is the man who takes the financial responsibility of the woman he is bringing home; the dower is nothing but a symbolic expression of this responsibility . The Quran uses the words صَدُقَه ( saduqah ) and اَجَر ( ajar ) for it. Both words imply money which is given to a wife for her needs in return for her companionship. Like nikah and the nikah sermon, dower payment is an ancient practice that was in vogue in Arabia before the advent of the Prophet Muhammad (sws). It is mentioned in the Bible in similar terms [1] . While commenting upon the importance of this age-old custom, Imam Amin Ahsan Islahi writes : … “ matters in which payment of money is a pre-condition and the payment itself is not a favour but a duty such that it is understood even though it may not be mentioned and its payment is an obligation dependent on the social status of the lady – then such matters are serious ones both as regards the shariah and the norms of society. No sensible person will become party to such a contract unless after deep consideration, he prepares himself to fulfil its responsibilities – [it is] for these benefits that the payment of the dower has been made essential. Those who have overlooked these benefits deem that the payment of the dower money has relegated the status of a woman to a saleable commodity. This of course is the result of not properly perceiving the underlying reason for the payment of the dower. The reason for this payment is to sound a warning to every person seeking to enter the sacred bond of marriage that he must think over the extent of responsibility this step will entail. Marital matters must be taken seriously. Even words said in a light-hearted manner in such matters have a solemn status. It is like walking on a sharp-edged sword” [2] . The shariah has not fixed any amount for the dower . It has been left to the norms and traditions of a society and to the discretion of the people. Consequently, it can be fixed to any amount which is in accordance with the social status of the woman and the financial status of the man who is to become her husband. (Excerpt from Mizan: Javed Ahmed Ghamidi) (English rendering by Dr. Shahzad Saleem) _____ [1] . Genesis, 34:12; Exodus, 22:17 [2] . Amin Ahsan Islahi,Tadabbur-i Qur’an, vol. 2, 278. _____ Please also refer to the video below from 15:01 to 30:04 https://youtu.be/o0coLJYoUMw?t=901