We reply: her customary bridal gift may be one riyal, while the sheep is worth twenty riyals; in that case, the sheep is better for her. Thus, the customary bridal gift is not invariably more valuable than a sheep or a camel; circumstances differ.

If someone says: Why do we not say that the pig should be sold to those who deem it lawful, and that she should take its price? The answer is that this is not valid, because it is not permissible for us to sell a pig to Christians, even though they regard it as lawful. Therefore, she is entitled to the customary bridal gift. This is the view adopted by the jurists, may Allah have mercy on them. The stronger view, however, is that she should be given the lawful animal that most closely resembles the pig. It appears that cattle are the animals most similar to pigs, so she should be given a cow. Alternatively, it may be said that this pig should be assessed according to what it would be worth, for example, among Christians, and she should be given its value. The first view, however, is closer to what is correct, because the basic rule regarding items for which compensation is due is that they are compensated with an equivalent.

In summary: if both of them knew that it was prohibited—whether the prohibition involved the right of Allah or the right of another person—then she is entitled to the customary bridal gift, because the specified bridal gift is invalid by scholarly consensus. But if they were unaware that it was prohibited, then she is entitled to its equivalent or its value. Likewise, according to the stronger view, this applies if she alone was unaware of it, because she only made herself lawful to this man in exchange for this consideration, and he too gave her no bridal gift other than that item. Yes, if someone were to exercise independent reasoning and say: If he knew it was prohibited while she did not, then we should require him to pay the customary bridal gift, even if it is greater than what was specified for her, as a penalty for deceiving her—then such a view would have some basis from the standpoint of disciplinary punishment.

“If she finds the lawful item defective, she is given the choice between its deficiency compensation and its value. If he marries her on the basis of one thousand for her and one thousand for her father, the specification is valid, ……”

The author’s statement, “If she finds the lawful item defective, she is given the choice between its deficiency compensation and its value”: “lawful” is an adjective modifying an omitted noun. Ibn Malik, may Allah have mercy on him, says: