Accepting a wedding gift and giving a return gift
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The second question of Fatwa No. ( 11367 )
Q2: It is the custom of people in marriage that the one getting married benefits from what the other can afford in money, and then after a period, this person who previously benefited his brother gets married, so he is compelled to return what he had given him, and add to it an equal amount or less. The ruling is to return that amount and add to it. For example: a person gave me five hundred riyals (500) as assistance for my marriage, or my son's marriage, and after a month this person or his son gets married, and in this case I must assist him, so I return the five hundred riyals and add another five hundred or less. The important thing is that there must be an increase over the assistance he gave me, and it is not possible for me to return only his amount. There must be an increase over it. And if I return to him the amount he gave me as assistance without increasing it, something happens in his heart, and he says: "You returned my right to me and did not help me with anything." This is something known among us in the south, especially in marriage and helping with building houses. And my question is: Is this assistance, which includes an increase over what he assisted me with, permissible? Or does it fall under: "Every loan that brings benefit is usury (riba)," since the increase is almost necessary, and it must be there, even if he borrows it and returns his assistance plus the increase? Likewise, women send each other an amount, and at the wedding celebration this amount is returned with an increase, and this increase is almost a condition in returning it and the duration of its return. This assistance may vary; this assisting person may have gotten married with this amount, and in the second week
the one who gave him the assistance gets married, so he returns his assistance to him, and this increase is after a week, or it may be a month or a year, depending on circumstances. I ask for clarification of the ruling of the Shari'ah, and may Allah preserve you.
A2: It is prescribed for a Muslim to give gifts to his brother, and to do good to him, especially at times of need.Ash-Shama'il Al-Muhammadiyah 356Sahih Isnād (Zubair `Aliza'i) And it was reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he used to give a return gift to the giver that was more, and he said: Sunan Ibn Majah 2285Sahih (Darussalam) And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q2: It is the custom of people in marriage that the one getting married benefits from what the other can afford in money, and then after a period, this person who previously benefited his brother gets married, so he is compelled to return what he had given him, and add to it an equal amount or less. The ruling is to return that amount and add to it. For example: a person gave me five hundred riyals (500) as assistance for my marriage, or my son's marriage, and after a month this person or his son gets married, and in this case I must assist him, so I return the five hundred riyals and add another five hundred or less. The important thing is that there must be an increase over the assistance he gave me, and it is not possible for me to return only his amount. There must be an increase over it. And if I return to him the amount he gave me as assistance without increasing it, something happens in his heart, and he says: "You returned my right to me and did not help me with anything." This is something known among us in the south, especially in marriage and helping with building houses. And my question is: Is this assistance, which includes an increase over what he assisted me with, permissible? Or does it fall under: "Every loan that brings benefit is usury (riba)," since the increase is almost necessary, and it must be there, even if he borrows it and returns his assistance plus the increase? Likewise, women send each other an amount, and at the wedding celebration this amount is returned with an increase, and this increase is almost a condition in returning it and the duration of its return. This assistance may vary; this assisting person may have gotten married with this amount, and in the second week
the one who gave him the assistance gets married, so he returns his assistance to him, and this increase is after a week, or it may be a month or a year, depending on circumstances. I ask for clarification of the ruling of the Shari'ah, and may Allah preserve you.
A2: It is prescribed for a Muslim to give gifts to his brother, and to do good to him, especially at times of need.
used to accept gifts and provide recompense of greater value
كان يقبل الهدية ويثيب عليهاthe best of People are those who are best in repaying
خير الناس أحسنهم قضاء
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.