Exaggeration in Bridal Gifts

The Shaykh:
And upon you be peace, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

The questioner:
May Allah reward you and bless you. This is a message from one of the brothers, and it appears he is among the youth. He requests that you, Honorable Shaykh, speak about the exaggeration in bridal gifts, as the youth at this time are unable to get married because of this.

The Shaykh:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. To proceed: The mahr (bridal gift) is obligatory, even if it is not mentioned or specified; in that case, she is entitled to the mahr of her like. It is therefore required. Allah the Exalted said: This is a right belonging to the woman, a right belonging to the woman. Therefore, it is obligatory upon the husband, and it is recommended to make it easy and not to exaggerate in it. Exaggeration in the mahr is disliked, such that it reaches exorbitant amounts or burdensome costs, because this makes things difficult for husbands and hinders marriage. What is required is to make marriage easy, to encourage marriage, and to forbid everything that stands in its way. The purpose of marriage is not to obtain money; that is trade. Rather, its purpose is greater than that: a righteous offspring, tranquility, and other great objectives, as well as the chastity of each spouse through the other. All of this is among the great objectives of marriage. The purpose is not trade or taking money. Yes.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you.