Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (12/254)

Sixth: If circumstances arise that call for khulʿ (a wife’s release from marriage in return for compensation), then, if the dower is modest, it will be easy for the woman or her guardian to offer the compensation for the khulʿ. But if the dower is substantial, this will not be easy, because the husband will at least say, “Give me what is due to me.” If he has paid one hundred thousand, they may be unable to raise that amount—and he may demand even more.

In short, keeping the dower modest conforms to the guidance of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and entails benefits and compassion toward the believers. For this reason, it is recommended to keep it modest.

It has been mentioned that, some years ago, a woman married a man and he gave her one riyal as her dower. While he was taking his midday nap at her home, a man came knocking at the door insistently. He went down to the door, and when he did, his voice grew loud as he argued with the man. She came down to listen and found that the man was demanding one riyal from him. So she gave him the riyal that her husband had given her as her dower, and the problem was resolved. Consider, then, the condition of people in earlier times: how content she was to marry for one riyal and to discharge on her husband’s behalf the riyal he had given her.

His statement, “and stipulating it in the marriage contract”: the pronoun refers to the dower. Thus, stipulating the dower in the marriage contract is recommended. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I marry her to you for what you have of the Quran.” (1) Thus, he specified the dower. It also prevents disagreement when a dispute arises between the spouses. For example, if the husband no longer desires the woman and divorces her before consummating the marriage, then, if the dower was specified and the witnesses attested to it at the time of the contract, no dispute will arise. But if it was not specified, disagreement will arise. As for what some common people and ignorant persons who conduct marriage contracts do, they say, “I marry you

(1) Its source has been cited previously on p. 39.

السادس: أنه إذا جرى ما يوجب الخلع، فإنه إذا كان المهر خفيفاً تيسر على المرأة أو وليها أن تبذل عوض الخلع، ولكن إذا كان المهر ثقيلاً لا يتيسر؛ لأن الزوج ـ على الأقل ـ يقول: أعطوني حقي، وإذا كان قد دفع مائة ألف فقد لا يحصلونها، ويمكن أن يزيد. فالحاصل أن تخفيفه فيه موافقة لهدي النبي ﵊، وفيه مصالح ورأفة بالمؤمنين، فلهذا يسن تخفيفه. وقد ذُكر أنه قبل سنوات تزوجت امرأة رجلاً فأصدقها ريالاً، فبينما هو نائم عندها بالقائلة، إذا رجل يدق الباب ويبالغ في الدق، فنزل إلى الباب ولما نزل علا صوته مع الرجل فنزلت تسمع، وإذا الرجل يطلبه ريالاً، فأعطته الريال الذي دفعه لها مهراً، وانحلت المشكلة، فانظر إلى حال الناس في الأول، كيف طابت نفسها أن تتزوج بريال، وأن توفي عن زوجها الريال الذي أعطاها. قوله: «وتسميته في العقد» الضمير يعود على الصداق، فتسمية الصداق في العقد تسن؛ قال النبي ﷺ: «زوجتكها بما معك من القرآن» (١)، فسمى الصداق، ولئلا يحصل خلاف عندما يحصل نزاع بين الزوجين، فمثلاً الزوج ما رغب المرأة وطلقها قبل الدخول، فإذا سمي المهر وشهد به الشهود عند العقد لم يحصل خلاف، لكن إذا لم يسمَ حصل الخلاف، أما ما يفعله بعض العامة والجهال ممن يعقدون الأنكحة، فيقول: زوجتك

(١) سبق تخريجه ص (٣٩).