and an equivalent mahr, while he admits the marriage yet denies the mahr or remains silent, the sounder opinion is that he must clarify his position. If he specifies an amount and she claims a larger one, they both swear oaths; but if he persists in denial, she alone swears and judgment is entered in her favour.

If the husband and the guardian of a minor or mentally incompetent woman differ over the mahr’s amount, both swear, according to the preponderant view.

Should she say, “You married me on such-and-such a day for one thousand dirhams, and on such-and-such a day for another one thousand,” and both contracts are established through his admission or by evidence, two thousand become obligatory. If he swears that he did not consummate either marriage—or only one of them—he is believed and half the mahr is remitted. Should he claim that the second occasion was merely a renewal of wording and not a separate contract, his claim is rejected.

Section

Holding a wedding feast (walimah) is a sunnah; according to another opinion it is obligatory. Accepting the invitation is an individual duty; another view makes it a collective duty, and a third regards it as recommended. The obligation or recommendation applies only if the host does not single out the wealthy and if the guest is invited on the first day. When the walimah lasts three days, attendance is not obligatory on the second day and is disliked on the third.

Attendance is further conditioned on the guest’s not going out of fear of the host or hope for his influence, on the absence of anyone whose company would harm or demean him, and on the absence of any wrongdoing. If the wrongdoing would cease by his presence, he should attend. Among the objectionable matters are: silk bedding and images of living creatures on ceilings, walls, cushions, curtains, or garments that are being worn. Permissible are images on the floor, carpets, or pillows, as well as headless figures and depictions of trees. Forming images of living beings is forbidden.

Fasting does not excuse one from attending. If keeping the fast would unduly burden the host, the guest should break it. The guest eats what is placed before him without any formal statement and may not dispose of it except by eating. He may, however, take what he knows the host is pleased for him to take.

Scattering sugar or similar treats at weddings is permitted—and, according to the sounder view, not disliked—and it is likewise permissible to pick them up, though leaving them is preferable.