DOWRIES (VERSE NO. 4)

      Here reference is made to one of the certain rights of women in their marriage, which is their dower. Qurän strictly bids man to observe and respect the rights of women: ``And give women their dowries as a free gift or as a loan that you may owe.''

      Then, to respect the sentiments and refined feelings of both parties, the verse implies that; although men are under the obligation to pay and fulfill what they have promised, yet when a woman with her own decision and consent, offers a part or all her dower, the man may have it as a lawful and wholesome; so that besides the bare and dry law and regulation, there might also sit some kindness and love.

DOWER IS SOCIAL SUPPORT TO WOMEN

      In the Pagan Era, wherein women had not obtained any of their deserved values, it was such that when they were given a divorce, their dowery was handed over to some guardians like their father, brother or uncle, and not to themselves. Thus many a time it would happen that the dower of one woman in a household was used in the expense of another's marriage!

      Islam definitely crossed out such unjust attitudes and partialities by declaring the dower as an indisputable right and property of women.

      If some through a feeling of disapproval may consider the dowery as a price for buying a women, their ideas has nothing to do with Islam which never consider such an important matter of marriage as trades and selling or buying and etc. This is because the most important Islamic principle of marriage is the pronounciation of the formula of marriage between the couple. It is not the payment of the dower in the sight of Islam, that makes the man and woman the legal and lawful wife and husband. The dower is merely a by-product of the marriage and the covenant of wedlock, and yet it is incumbent upon the man to pay it.