He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was asked:

A man’s wife had him detained by the judge for two months over her dower, but no assets belonging to him could be found. Is the judge permitted to keep him in detention, or should he release him?

He replied:

If he is not known to possess any property, the judge should require him to swear an oath that he cannot pay, then release him. In these circumstances, it is not permissible to imprison him or require him to produce evidence, according to all four schools of jurisprudence.

He—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

A man married a virgin and consummated the marriage, then claimed that she had not been a virgin. They brought their dispute before a judge, who sent two women with her. They found that she had been a virgin, but he denied this and refused to pay the dower. What is he obliged to do?

He replied:

He has no right to do that; rather, he must pay the full dower. As Zurārah stated, and as the rightly guided caliphs and imams ruled: once a man has closed the door and drawn the curtain, the waiting period must be observed and the dower paid. Allah knows best.