Marriage Section · 30 – Mehr's Being Small
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) saw on Abdurrahman bin Auf a stain of saffron. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said to him, “What has happened to you?” Abdurrahman said, "I have married a woman." The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) asked him, "What dowry did you give her?" Abdurrahman said, "I gave her a weight of gold equal to a date-stone." The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “Even if it were a sheep, celebrate with a wedding.” [119]
*Mehyem*: In the Yemenite language, it means "What happened to you?" A date-stone weight is interpreted as five *dirhams* of gold. (Ma’alim al-Sunnah)
Jabir ibn Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, "Whoever gives a woman as dowry two handfuls of roasted wheat or dates, he has made it lawful for her." [120]
In the narration transmitted by Abu Dawud through another route: Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) says, “We used to entertain ourselves with a handful of food in the era of prosperity.” *Istimta’* has been used in reference to the *mut'a* marriage.
EXPLANATION
According to Imam al-Azam, the minimum amount of dowry is ten dirhams, equivalent to 28 grams. According to Sufyan al-Thawri, Ash-Shafi’i, Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and Ishaq ibn Rahuwayh, there is no limit for the lower amount of dowry; it is what they mutually agree upon.
Said ibn Mueysir said: “If a man gives a whip as dowry, the woman becomes lawful.”
Malik says: "The minimum dowry is one-quarter of a dinar." (Ma'alim al-Sunnah)