When is the bridal gift paid?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
A message was received for the program from the listener: Muhammad Halimi, Mira al-Ajuzah, Egypt. Our brother’s message is somewhat lengthy; he says in it: I proposed to the daughter of one of the families, and after acceptance by both parties, we recited Surat al-Fatihah in the presence of both our families. A few days later, I traveled to work in one of the Arab countries, then returned on leave after six months. During this time, an agreement was reached to determine the value of the jewelry and the bridal gift to be paid, and an engagement party was held. Then we bought the apartment—our new home—and it was also agreed that the wedding ceremony would take place at the end of my contract, which will expire after five months. I prepared to travel to complete the remaining period, and two days before departure, my fiancée’s father asked me to pay him the agreed-upon bridal gift in advance so that he could proceed with the preparations and buy furniture for our new home. However, I refused and told him: I will not pay the bridal gift except at the time of the marriage contract. But he objected to that and said: The custom among us is that the marriage contract is made on the wedding night. We argued at length, and he said: Ask those with experience who have preceded you into the world of marriage; you will find that my position is the correct one. Generally, if you do not have money now, I can pay it, and then you can settle it later. In turn, I ask: Is it possible to pay the bridal gift at any time without it being tied to the marriage contract? Or is it tied to it? And is the marriage contract made first, and then the bridal gift paid later?
Please guide us, may Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
These are customary matters. It is permissible to pay the bridal gift before the contract, it is permissible at the time of the contract, and it is permissible after the contract. The important thing is that they agree on it within the body of the contract. If they agree on something, it is obligatory for the husband to deliver it. If they agree that it is immediate, it is obligatory to deliver it immediately. If they agree that it is deferred, it is obligatory to deliver it at the time of its due date. If he pays it before the contract, as is the custom of many people who pay it before the contract so that the wife’s family can make the necessary preparations, then that is sufficient, and there is no need to specify a particular amount. Rather, whenever he gives them what is easy for him and they are satisfied with it, that suffices. If they did not agree to specify a particular amount, people differ in this regard. So if he gives something from what pleases his heart to the wife’s family, and they are satisfied with it and do not return it, that suffices. But if they specify it with a particular amount, he has a choice: if he wishes, he delivers the specified amount to them, and if he wishes, he leaves the engagement with them and the marriage to them. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
A message was received for the program from the listener: Muhammad Halimi, Mira al-Ajuzah, Egypt. Our brother’s message is somewhat lengthy; he says in it: I proposed to the daughter of one of the families, and after acceptance by both parties, we recited Surat al-Fatihah in the presence of both our families. A few days later, I traveled to work in one of the Arab countries, then returned on leave after six months. During this time, an agreement was reached to determine the value of the jewelry and the bridal gift to be paid, and an engagement party was held. Then we bought the apartment—our new home—and it was also agreed that the wedding ceremony would take place at the end of my contract, which will expire after five months. I prepared to travel to complete the remaining period, and two days before departure, my fiancée’s father asked me to pay him the agreed-upon bridal gift in advance so that he could proceed with the preparations and buy furniture for our new home. However, I refused and told him: I will not pay the bridal gift except at the time of the marriage contract. But he objected to that and said: The custom among us is that the marriage contract is made on the wedding night. We argued at length, and he said: Ask those with experience who have preceded you into the world of marriage; you will find that my position is the correct one. Generally, if you do not have money now, I can pay it, and then you can settle it later. In turn, I ask: Is it possible to pay the bridal gift at any time without it being tied to the marriage contract? Or is it tied to it? And is the marriage contract made first, and then the bridal gift paid later?
Please guide us, may Allah reward you with good.
Answer:
These are customary matters. It is permissible to pay the bridal gift before the contract, it is permissible at the time of the contract, and it is permissible after the contract. The important thing is that they agree on it within the body of the contract. If they agree on something, it is obligatory for the husband to deliver it. If they agree that it is immediate, it is obligatory to deliver it immediately. If they agree that it is deferred, it is obligatory to deliver it at the time of its due date. If he pays it before the contract, as is the custom of many people who pay it before the contract so that the wife’s family can make the necessary preparations, then that is sufficient, and there is no need to specify a particular amount. Rather, whenever he gives them what is easy for him and they are satisfied with it, that suffices. If they did not agree to specify a particular amount, people differ in this regard. So if he gives something from what pleases his heart to the wife’s family, and they are satisfied with it and do not return it, that suffices. But if they specify it with a particular amount, he has a choice: if he wishes, he delivers the specified amount to them, and if he wishes, he leaves the engagement with them and the marriage to them. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.