into the Muslim community from outside influences, and I hope that if all Muslim leaders in India join their efforts in this regard, great success will be achieved in eradicating this custom. Allah alone is the Giver of success.” End of citation.
After examining the matter, the Council has resolved the following:
First: The Council extends its gratitude to Shaykh Abū al-Ḥasan al-Nadwī and to brother ʿAbd al-Qādir for raising the issue, for their religious zeal, and for their stand against this innovation and reprehensible custom. The Council urges them to continue their work in combating this and other harmful practices, and asks Allah to grant them and all Muslims success and right guidance, rewarding them for their earnestness and diligence.
Second: The Council reminds brother ʿAbd al-Qādir and others that, although a marriage conducted in this fashion departs from the proper sharʿī form in this respect, it is nevertheless a valid marriage according to the majority of Muslim scholars. Only a few scholars have held it invalid when the absence of the mahr is explicitly stipulated. As for the children born of such a marriage, they are legitimate and are legally affiliated to their fathers and mothers—this is agreed upon by the scholars, including those who consider a marriage conditioned on no mahr to be invalid; their works state explicitly that the offspring remain attached to their parents under the marriage in question.
Third: The Council rules that this custom is evil and detestable, a reprehensible innovation that contravenes the Book of Allah, the Sunnah of His Messenger ﷺ, the consensus of the scholars, and the practice of Muslims throughout the ages.
As for the Book of Allah, He says:
“Give the women their bridal-money graciously” (Qur’an 4:4);
“There is no blame upon you for marrying them once you have given them their due compensation” (Qur’an 60:10);
“And for whatever enjoyment you have had from them, give them their due compensation as an obligation” (Qur’an 4:24);
—and many other similar verses.