Ruling on opposing harmful customs that have no religious basis

The questioner: Regarding some of the customs prevalent among people that result in economic burdens. For example: after a woman gives birth, her husband presents her with a gift that may exceed ten thousand riyals, in what is called *Ifti'ah*. What is your opinion, O Shaykh, about this, considering that a person may face severe criticism for deviating from such customs?The Shaykh: Our answer to this is that people should not make it a habit to engage in these things that have no religious basis. As the questioner mentioned, they are exorbitant expenses. Perhaps what the questioner mentioned occurs in some countries, because we do not know of this practice in our country. However, if some countries do this, we advise them not to burden themselves with these expenses that have no religious basis.