Position of Demanding Dowry from the Bride's Family

More than hundred religious scholars belonging to different schools of thought in the country attending the Thirteenth Fiqh Seminar of the Islamic Fiqh Academy held in April 2001 signed the following decisions.

34.1 This session of the Islamic Fiqh Academy expresses deep concern over general mentality of putting bridegrooms on sale, rampant in the present Muslim society, where boys are treated as a market commodity. Not only the boys themselves make higher demands of dowry but also their parents and relatives. They are on a look as to who makes the highest bid for them. Shariah prohibits taking from the girl's party anything in the name of social customs or prevalent dowry. Rather, Shariah has entrusted a man with bearing the expenses of matrimony as ordained by the Qur'an. Today, we have reversed this Qur'anic principle and women are forced to spend money on matrimony. Sometimes the groom's party makes a clear demand for dowry while at others it is received under the garb of customs and rituals. The Shariah forbids all such forms of acceptance and offer.

34.2 This session of the Academy calls upon the Muslims of India to set the Muslim society on the path shown by the Prophet (pbuh) and to execute matrimonial alliance in a simple fashion, avoiding all sorts of extravagance. They should hold matrimonial ceremonies without forcing the girl's party to yield to their undue demands and strictly follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh).