what concern have you?’

It appears that he reproved him for the yellow stain he was wearing and for a type of perfume whose color remains visible—something more appropriate for women. When he learned that the mark had come from his wife, he excused him.

“The weight of a date-stone in gold” was a recognized measure among them; it is said to equal five dirhams.

“Awlim” is an imperative derived from walīmah, the meal prepared for a marriage.

Overall meaning:
The Prophet ﷺ noticed on ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf a trace of saffron, whereas men should use fragrances whose scent is evident but whose color is hidden. He therefore questioned him, disapprovingly, about what was on him. ʿAbd al-Raḥmān told him that he had recently married and that the trace had reached him from his wife, so the Prophet ﷺ permitted it. Because he was always attentive and compassionate toward his Companions, examining their circumstances so as to approve what was good and forbid what was objectionable, he asked him about the dowry he had given her. He replied, “The equivalent of the weight of a date-stone in gold.” The Prophet ﷺ prayed for blessing for him and instructed him to hold a wedding banquet, even if only with a single sheep.

Lessons derived from the ḥadith:
1- It is disliked for men to perfume themselves with saffron or with any fragrance whose trace is visible.
2- A ruler or leader should look after his companions and inquire about the matters and actions that concern them and him.
3- It is recommended to keep the dowry light; ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf gave his bride no more than five dirhams’ weight of gold.
4- The ḥadith alludes to the basic validity of dowry in marriage, in line with both the Sacred Law and customary practice.
5- It is commendable to pray for blessing for the newlyweds. The established supplication is: “May Allah bless you, bless you both, and unite you in goodness.”
6- The walīmah offered by the groom is prescribed, and if he is well-off it should not be less than a sheep. Ibn Daqīq al-ʿĪd said: “The walīmah is the food prepared for a wedding; it is among the acts sought by the Sharīʿah, and one of its benefits is the publicizing of the marriage by gathering the people for the banquet.”