and the garden was generally worth more than that. So he, peace and blessings be upon him, said to her, “Will you return his garden to him?” She said, “Yes.” He said, “Accept the garden and divorce her with one pronouncement.” (1) This shows that an increase is permissible. Moreover, the basic principle is permissibility unless there is evidence to the contrary.

Some have cited the saying of Allah Most High, “And if you have given one of them a qintar, do not take back anything from it. Would you take it by slander and manifest sin?” [al-Nisa’ 4:20] A qintar, they say, is the amount of gold that would fill a calfskin, which is a great deal; others say it is one thousand dinars. Does this verse indicate that an increase is permissible?

Some have used this verse as proof that an increase is permissible, while others have said that it contains no such proof. Rather, its meaning is: even if it were assumed that you had given this amount, do not take anything back from it. Thus, it is mentioned by way of emphasis, like the saying of Allah Most High, “Even if you were to seek forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah would never forgive them.” [al-Tawbah 9:80] What is mentioned by way of emphasis need not actually occur. However, we have this verse, the hadith we mentioned, and the fact that the basic principle is permissibility.

Everything that is valid as a price or payment for hire is valid as a dower, even if it is small.

His words, “Everything that is valid as a price or payment for hire is valid as a dower,” mean that anything for which a sale contract or a lease contract is valid may be given as a dower. This is the criterion for what is valid as a dower.

Accordingly, money—meaning gold and silver—may be given as a dower, since it is valid as a price. Specific items may likewise be given, such as clothing, a car, land, or a house.

Benefits may also be given, such as the right to reside in a house; he is not required to