An-Nisaa (The Women)

Verse 4

Table of Contents

4. "And give women their dowries as a free gift, but if they, of themselves, be pleased to give up to you something of it, then consume it with pleasure and wholesomely."

Concerning the above verse where this term has been applied, it can be explained that the Arabic term /nihlah/, as Raqib Esfahani has said, is derived from /nahl/ in the sense of 'bee'. Since a bee gives honey to people and expects nothing, so, a present is also called /nihlah/.

An Islamic tradition indicates that the finest properties should be used in three occasions:

1. Dowry,

2. Hajj pilgrimage,

3. Shroud.

If you spend your best properties in paying dower, your offspring will be of the righteous.1

Explanations

1. Paying dower of the wife (which is her right) is obligatory.

2. Dower sum is not the rate of a lady, but it is a wedding gift and the sign of affection and friendship.

"And give women their dowries as a free gift..."

3. Dowry is the gift of man to the woman, and never it is her cost. However, we must know that dower is a financial support for the woman at the probable time of separation and as a compensation of her damage.

4. A woman has the right of possession of her dower. Thus, the parents and relatives of the lady have no right at all to take it for themselves.

5. A woman is free to take her dowry or donate it.

"... but if they, of themselves, be pleased to give up to you something of it..."

6. A wholesome wealth is that which whose owner bestows willingly and pleasantly.

"... but if they, of themselves, be pleased to give up to you something of it, then consume it with pleasure and wholesomely."

7. The extrinsic consent is not enough, but heartily consent is essential when the Qur'an says:

"of themselves".

Then, unwillingly given or compulsory remits are not valid.

Footnotes

  1. It can be said that the wisdom of polygamy lies in the following: 1. The number of death for men in wars and accidents is larger than that of women and, therefore, some women become widows. 2. Women have monthly periods when no association occurs. 3. Few of the young men are willing to marry a widow woman. 4. Not all of the husbandless widows are pious or have the power to control them. Therefore, either, for the consent of the first husband, the rights of the widows should be ignored, or the problem must be solved by a project. Thus, basing on some conditions, men can marry a second wife in order to solve the difficulty of the both parties. ↩