then, when the term is completed, if the woman wishes, she may extend the term and the man may increase the payment; but if they do not agree, he separates from her. Those who understood the verse as referring to enjoyment within a valid marriage said that the meaning of His words, “There is no blame upon you for what you mutually agree upon,” is the remission of part of the dower, redemption, and compensation. “Indeed, Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.”

Section: The Amount of the Dower and What Is Recommended Concerning It

Know that there is no prescribed maximum for the dower, due to His saying, Exalted is He: “Even if you have given one of them a great amount, do not take anything back from it.” It is recommended, however, not to make it excessive. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “Do not make women’s dowries exorbitant. For if that were a mark of honor in this world and piety before Allah, the Prophet of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, would have been more entitled to it than you. To my knowledge, the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, never gave any of his wives, nor accepted for any of his daughters, a dower exceeding twelve uqiyyahs.” (1)

Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsi informed us; Zahir ibn Ahmad informed us; Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Muflis informed us; Harun ibn Ishaq informed us; Yahya ibn Muhammad al-Harithi informed us; ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ibn Muhammad informed us, from Yazid ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hadi, from Muhammad ibn Ibrahim, from Abu Salamah, who said: I asked ‘A’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, “What was the dower that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, gave to his wives?” She said: “His dower for his wives was twelve uqiyyahs and a nashsh.” She then said, “Do you know what a nashsh is?” I said, “No.” She said, “Half an uqiyyah. That amounts to five hundred dirhams. This was the dower of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, for his wives.” (2)

As for the minimum dower, scholars differed over it. A group held that no minimum amount is prescribed; rather, anything that may validly be sold or used as payment may serve as a dower. This was the view of Rabi‘ah, Sufyan al-Thawri, al-Shafi‘i, Ahmad, and Ishaq. ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab said: “Three handfuls of raisins may constitute a dower.” Sa‘id ibn al-Musayyib said: “If he gives her a whip as her dower, it is valid.”

Others held that it is fixed according to the minimum threshold for theft. This was the view of Malik and Abu Hanifah, except that the theft threshold according to Malik is three dirhams, while according to Abu Hanifah it is ten dirhams.

The proof that no minimum is prescribed is what Abu al-Hasan al-Sarakhsi informed us. He said: Zahir ibn Ahmad informed us; Abu Ishaq al-Hashimi informed us; Abu Mus‘ab informed us, from Malik, from Abu Hazim, from Sahl ibn Sa‘d al-Sa‘idi, may Allah be pleased with him: A woman came to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and said, “O Messenger of Allah, I have offered myself to you.” She remained standing for a long time, then a man stood up.