Court Marriage in Islam

Is court marriage allowed in Islam?

Under certain conditions, some couples decide to get married by registering themselves in government offices without having to go through a traditional Islamic ceremony.  This type of marriage is allowed; however, it is recommended to have witness for the reason of inheritance, husband should give a dowry (gift) to his wife (prior to consummating marriage). Some Ahadith related to the topic are presented below.

Kinds of Marriages:

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ يَحِلُّ الْفَرْجُ بِثَلَاثٍ نِكَاحٍ بِمِيرَاثٍ وَ نِكَاحٍ بِلَا مِيرَاثٍ وَ نِكَاحِ مِلْكِ الْيَمِينِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny, from;

Abu Abdullah^-asws said: ‘The private parts (relationship with woman) are Made to be Permissible by three conditions – by Nikah (resulting in inheritance), and a (temporary) marriage without (resulting in) inheritance (Mutah), and a marriage by the possession of the right hand (slave girl[1])’.^[2]

Marriage without Witnesses:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ النَّهْدِيِّ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجْرَانَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ( عليه السلام ) لِأَبِي يُوسُفَ الْقَاضِي إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى أَمَرَ فِي كِتَابِهِ بِالطَّلَاقِ وَ أَكَّدَ فِيهِ بِشَاهِدَيْنِ وَ لَمْ يَرْضَ بِهِمَا إِلَّا عَدْلَيْنِ وَ أَمَرَ فِي كِتَابِهِ بِالتَّزْوِيجِ فَأَهْمَلَهُ بِلَا شُهُودٍ فَأَثْبَتُّمْ شَاهِدَيْنِ فِيمَا أَهْمَلَ وَ أَبْطَلْتُمُ الشَّاهِدِينَ فِيمَا أَكَّدَ .

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Dawood Al Nahdy, from Ibn Abu Najran, from Muhammad Bin Al Fuzayl who said,

‘Abu Al-Hassan Musa^-asws said to Abu Yusuf, the judge, that Allah Blessed and High Commanded in His^-azwj Book with the divorce, and Emphasised therein with two witnesses and was not Pleased with the two except if they were just, and Commanded in His^-azwj Book with the marriage but Left it out without witnesses. So, you (on the other hand) have affirmed the two witnesses regarding what is to be left out, and invalidated the two witnesses regarding what is Emphasised’.^[3]

.عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ بْنِ أَعْيَنَ قَالَ سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَتَزَوَّجُ الْمَرْأَةَ بِغَيْرِ شُهُودٍ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِتَزْوِيجِ الْبَتَّةِ فِيمَا بَيْنَهُ وَ بَيْنَ اللَّهِ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَ الشُّهُودُ فِي تَزْوِيجِ الْبَتَّةِ مِنْ أَجْلِ الْوَلَدِ لَوْ لَا ذَلِكَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ بَأْسٌ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Umar Bin Azina, from Zurara Bin Ayn who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws was asked about the man who married the woman without witnesses. So, he^-asws said: ‘There is no problem with a marriage at all regarding what is between him and Allah^-azwj. But rather, the witnesses have been made (necessary) regarding the marriage due to the reason of the children. Had it not been that, there would not be a problem with it’.^[4]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّمَا جُعِلَتِ الْبَيِّنَاتُ لِلنَّسَبِ وَ الْمَوَارِيثِ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى وَ الْحُدُودِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father and Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Abdullah Bin Muhammad, altogether, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hisham Bin Salim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘But rather, the proofs had been made for the lineage and the inheritances. And in another report: ‘And the legal Punishments (Hadd)’.^[5]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ الْبَخْتَرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي الرَّجُلِ يَتَزَوَّجُ بِغَيْرِ بَيِّنَةٍ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, and Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Al Fazl Bin Shazan, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Hafs Bin Al Bakhtary,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws regarding the man who married without a proof. He^-asws said: ‘There is no problem’.^[6]

Marriage is allowed if carried out as per prevailing traditions

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ نَضْرٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ نُعْمَانَ الْجُعْفِيِّ قَالَ كَانَ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) صَدِيقٌ لَا يَكَادُ يُفَارِقُهُ إِذَا ذَهَبَ مَكَاناً فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ يَمْشِي مَعَهُ فِي الْحَذَّاءِينَ وَ مَعَهُ غُلَامٌ لَهُ سِنْدِيٌّ يَمْشِي خَلْفَهُمَا إِذَا الْتَفَتَ الرَّجُلُ يُرِيدُ غُلَامَهُ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّاتٍ فَلَمْ يَرَهُ فَلَمَّا نَظَرَ فِي الرَّابِعَةِ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ الْفَاعِلَةِ أَيْنَ كُنْتَ

Abu Ali Al -ashary, from Muhammad Bin Salim, from Ahmad Bin N-azar, from Amro Bin Nu’man Al Ju’fy who said,

‘There used to be a friend for Abu Abdullah^-asws who was almost never separate from him^-asws whenever he^-asws went to a place. So, while he w-as walking with him^-asws among the shoemakers, and with him was a Sindy slave of his walking behind him, when the man turned around intending his slave, three times, but did not see him. So when he looked during the fourth (time), he said, ‘O son of the adulteress! Where were you?’

قَالَ فَرَفَعَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَدَهُ فَصَكَّ بِهَا جَبْهَةَ نَفْسِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ تَقْذِفُ أُمَّهُ قَدْ كُنْتُ أَرَى أَنَّ لَكَ وَرَعاً فَإِذَا لَيْسَ لَكَ وَرَعٌ فَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ أُمَّهُ سِنْدِيَّةٌ مُشْرِكَةٌ فَقَالَ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ نِكَاحاً تَنَحَّ عَنِّي

He (the narrator) said, ‘So Abu Abdullah^-asws raised his^-asws hand and hit his^-asws own forehead with it, then said: ‘Glory be to Allah^-azwj! You slander his mother, and I^-asws used to view the piety being for you, but there is no piety for you’. So he said, ‘May I be sacrificed for you^-asws! His mother was a Sindy woman, a Polytheist’. So he^-asws said: ‘But don’t you know that for every community there is a (form of) marriage? Stay away from me^-asws’.

قَالَ فَمَا رَأَيْتُهُ يَمْشِي مَعَهُ حَتَّى فَرَّقَ الْمَوْتُ بَيْنَهُمَا

He (the narrator) said: ‘So I did not see him^-asws walking with him until the death separated the two of them’.

وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى إِنَّ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ نِكَاحاً يَحْتَجِزُونَ بِهِ مِنَ الزِّنَا

And in another report, ‘(He^-asws said): ‘For every community there is a (form of) marriage by which they are being withheld from the adultery’.^[7]

Marriage without a sermon

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ هَارُونَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ التَّزْوِيجِ بِغَيْرِ خُطْبَةٍ فَقَالَ أَ وَ لَيْسَ عَامَّةُ مَا يَتَزَوَّجُ فِتْيَانُنَا وَ نَحْنُ نَتَعَرَّقُ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى الْخِوَانِ نَقُولُ يَا فُلَانُ زَوِّجْ فُلَاناً فُلَانَةَ فَيَقُولُ نَعَمْ قَدْ فَعَلْتُ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Bin Fazzal, from Ali Bin Yaqoub, from Haroun Bin Muslim, from Ubeyd Bin Zurara who said,

‘I asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about the marriage without an address, so he^-asws said: ‘Or are not the general Muslims marrying our youths and we sweat for (preparing) the meal upon the table, and we are saying, ‘O so and so, have you married so and so man to so and so woman?’ So he is saying, ‘Yes, I have done so’.^[8]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ الْأَشْعَرِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ الْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) كَانَ يَتَزَوَّجُ وَ هُوَ يَتَعَرَّقُ عَرْقاً يَأْكُلُ مَا يَزِيدُ عَلَى أَنْ يَقُولَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ يَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ قَدْ زَوَّجْنَاكَ عَلَى شَرْطِ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ( عليه السلام ) إِذَا حَمِدَ اللَّهَ فَقَدْ خَطَبَ .

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ja’far Bin Muhammad Al Ashary, from Abdullah Bin Maymoun Al Qaddah,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws that Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws Was marrying (solemnising it) and he^-asws was sweating with a sweat (preparing the meal), eating what was the excess upon that, and he^-asws was saying: ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj, and Blessings be upon Muhammad^-saww and his^-saww Progeny’, and he^-asws would be seeking Forgiveness of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and ‘I^-asws have got you married upon a stipulation of Allah^-azwj’. Then he^-asws said: ‘When Ali^-asws Bin Al-Husayn^-asws had Praised Allah^-azwj, so he^-asws had addressed’.^[9]

Some examples of marriage sermon are included in the appendix at the end.

The Dowry:

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ الْحُصَيْنِ عَنْ أَبِي الْعَبَّاسِ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ الصَّدَاقِ هَلْ لَهُ وَقْتٌ قَالَ لَا ثُمَّ قَالَ كَانَ صَدَاقُ النَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) اثْنَتَيْ عَشْرَةَ أُوقِيَّةً وَ نَشّاً وَ النَّشُّ نِصْفُ الْأُوقِيَّةِ وَ الْأُوقِيَّةُ أَرْبَعُونَ دِرْهَماً فَذَلِكَ خَمْسُمِائَةِ دِرْهَمٍ .

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Nasr, from Dawood Bin Al Husayn, from Abu Al Abbas who said,

‘I asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about the dowry, is there a time for it?’ He^-asws said: ‘No’. Then he^-asws said: ‘The dowry of the Prophet^-saww was of twelve Owqiya and one Nashsha, and the Nashsha is half the Owqiya, and the Owqiya is of forty Dirham, so that is five hundred Dirhams’.^[10]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الْمَهْرِ مَا هُوَ قَالَ مَا تَرَاضَى عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Muhammad Bin Al Fuzayl, from Abu Al Sabbah Al Kinany,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws, said, ‘I asked him^-asws about the dower, what is it?’ He^-asws said: ‘Whatever the people are pleased upon’.^[11]

ابْنُ مَحْبُوبٍ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ النُّعْمَانِ الْأَحْوَلِ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ الْعِجْلِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ رَجُلٍ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً عَلَى أَنْ يُعَلِّمَهَا سُورَةً مِنْ كِتَابِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَقَالَ مَا أُحِبُّ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بِهَا حَتَّى يُعَلِّمَهَا السُّورَةَ وَ يُعْطِيَهَا شَيْئاً قُلْتُ أَ يَجُوزُ أَنْ يُعْطِيَهَا تَمْراً أَوْ زَبِيباً قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ إِذَا رَضِيَتْ بِهِ كَائِناً مَا كَانَ .

Ibn Mahboub, from Al Haris Bin Muhammad Bin Al Noman Al Ahowl, from Bureyd Al Ijaly,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws, said, ‘I asked him^-asws about a man who married a woman upon a stipulation that he would teach her a Chapter from the Book of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic’. He^-asws said: ‘I^-asws do not like it that he should copulate with her until he has taught her the Chapter, and gives her something’. I said, ‘Is it allowed if he were to give her a date or a raisin?’ He^-asws said: ‘There is no problem with that when she is pleased with it, whatever it may happen to be’.^[12]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ الْحَكَمِ عَنِ الْعَلَاءِ بْنِ رَزِينٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ جَاءَتِ امْرَأَةٌ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فَقَالَتْ زَوِّجْنِي فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) مَنْ لِهَذِهِ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ أَنَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زَوِّجْنِيهَا فَقَالَ مَا تُعْطِيهَا فَقَالَ مَا لِي شَيْ‏ءٌ فَقَالَ لَا

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ali Bin Al hakam, from Al A’ala Bin Razeyn, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘A woman came over to the Prophet^-saww, so she said, ‘Get me married’. So Rasool-Allah^-saww said: ‘Who is for this one?’ So a man stood up and he said, ‘I will marry her, O Rasool-Allah^-saww!’ So he^-saww said: ‘What will you give her?’ So he said, ‘There is nothing for me’. So he^-saww said: ‘No’.

قَالَ فَأَعَادَتْ فَأَعَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) الْكَلَامَ فَلَمْ يَقُمْ أَحَدٌ غَيْرُ الرَّجُلِ ثُمَّ أَعَادَتْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) فِي الْمَرَّةِ الثَّالِثَةِ أَ تُحْسِنُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ شَيْئاً قَالَ نَعَمْ فَقَالَ قَدْ زَوَّجْتُكَهَا عَلَى مَا تُحْسِنُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ فَعَلِّمْهَا إِيَّاهُ .

He^-asws said, ‘So she re-iterated, and Rasool-Allah^-saww repeated the speech. But, no one stood up apart from that man. Then she re-iterated. So Rasool-Allah^-saww said during the third time: ‘Are you good with anything from the Quran?’ He said, ‘Yes’. So he^-saww said: ‘I^-saww hereby marry the two of you upon a (dower of) whatever you are good at from the Quran, so you will teach her it’.^[13]

حُمَيْدُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سَمَاعَةَ عَنْ غَيْرِ وَاحِدٍ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) فِي رَجُلٍ تَزَوَّجَ امْرَأَةً وَ لَمْ يَفْرِضْ لَهَا صَدَاقاً ثُمَّ دَخَلَ بِهَا قَالَ لَهَا صَدَاقُ نِسَائِهَا .

Humeyd Bin Ziyad, from Al Hassan Bin Muhammad Bin Sama’at, from someone else, from Aban Bin Usman, from Abdul Rahman Bin Abu Abdullah who said,

‘Abu Abdullah^-asws said regarding a man who married a woman and did not necessitate a dower for her, then copulated with her. He^-asws said: ‘For her would be a dower of his womenfolk’.^[14]

عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّوْفَلِيِّ عَنِ السَّكُونِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ تَصَدَّقَتْ عَلَى زَوْجِهَا بِمَهْرِهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بِهَا إِلَّا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهَا بِكُلِّ دِينَارٍ عِتْقَ رَقَبَةٍ قِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فَكَيْفَ بِالْهِبَةِ بَعْدَ الدُّخُولِ قَالَ إِنَّمَا ذَلِكَ مِنَ الْمَوَدَّةِ وَ الْأُلْفَةِ .

Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al Nowfaly, from Al Sakuny,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The Prophet^-saww said: ‘Whichever woman who donates upon her husband with her dower before he copulates with her, Allah^-azwj would Write for her (the reward of) the emancipation of a neck for each Dinar’. It was said, ‘O Rasool-Allah^-saww! So how would it be with her gifting it after the copulation?’ He^-saww said: ‘But rather, that is from the cordiality and the kindness’.^[15]

The Lowest from the Dowry:

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ الْخَزَّازِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا أَدْنَى مَا يُجْزِئُ مِنَ الْمَهْرِ قَالَ تِمْثَالٌ مِنْ سُكَّرٍ .

Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from Safwan, from Ibn Muskan, from Abu Ayoub Al Khazzaz, from Muhammad Bin Muslim,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws, said, ‘I said to him^-asws, ‘What is the lowest of what suffices from the dower?’ He^-asws said: ‘A lump of sugar’.^[16]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنِ الْمَشْرِقِيِّ عَنْ عِدَّةٍ حَدَّثُوهُ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يَقْضِي عَنِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الدُّيُونَ مَا خَلَا مُهُورَ النِّسَاءِ .

A number of our companions, form Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Muhammad Bin Isa, from Al Mashraqy, form a number who narrated it,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The Imam^-asws would pay off the debts from the Believers except for the dowries of the women’.^[17]

The copulation demolishes the immediate dower

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ بْنِ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ دُخُولُ الرَّجُلِ عَلَى الْمَرْأَةِ يَهْدِمُ الْعَاجِلَ .

Ali Bin Muhammad, from Salih Bin Abu Hammad, from Ibn Fazzal, from Ibn Bukeyr, from Ubeyd Bin Zurara,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘Copulation of the man with the woman demolishes the immediate (dower) (i.e., renders it irrelevant)’.^[18]

The man who agrees the dower but does not intend its payment

عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ أَبِي حَمَّادٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ مَنْ أَمْهَرَ مَهْراً ثُمَّ لَا يَنْوِي قَضَاءَهُ كَانَ بِمَنْزِلَةِ السَّارِقِ .

Ali Bin Muhammad, from Salih Bin Abu Hammad, from Ibn Fazzal, form one of our companions,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The one who agrees a dower, then he does not intend to pay it, would be at the status of the thief’.^[19]

The woman gifts herself to the man

أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ وَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ وَ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ جَمِيعاً عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنِ الْحَلَبِيِّ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ الْمَرْأَةِ تَهَبُ نَفْسَهَا لِلرَّجُلِ يَنْكِحُهَا بِغَيْرِ مَهْرٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّمَا كَانَ هَذَا لِلنَّبِيِّ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ أَمَّا لِغَيْرِهِ فَلَا يَصْلُحُ هَذَا حَتَّى يُعَوِّضَهَا شَيْئاً يُقَدِّمُ إِلَيْهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ يَدْخُلَ بِهَا قَلَّ أَوْ كَثُرَ وَ لَوْ ثَوْبٌ أَوْ دِرْهَمٌ وَ قَالَ يُجْزِئُ الدِّرْهَمُ .

Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from Safwan and Muhammad Bin Ismail, from Al Fazl Bin Shazaan, from Safwan and Muhammad Bin Sinan, altogether from Ibn Muskan, from Al Halby who said,

‘I asked Abu Abdullah^-asws about the woman who gifts herself to the man who marries her without a dower. So he^-asws said: ‘But rather, this was for the Prophet^-saww, and as for the others, so this is not correct until he places something for her and sends it to her before he copulates with her, be it little or more, and even if it is a garment, or one Dirham’. And he^-asws said: ‘The Dirham suffices’.^[20]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ سِرْحَانَ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ امْرَأَةً مُؤْمِنَةً إِنْ وَهَبَتْ نَفْسَها لِلنَّبِيِّ فَقَالَ لَا تَحِلُّ الْهِبَةُ إِلَّا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ أَمَّا غَيْرُهُ فَلَا يَصْلُحُ نِكَاحٌ إِلَّا بِمَهْرٍ.

A number of our companions, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Abu Nasr, from Dawood Bin Sirhan, from Zurara,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws, said, ‘I asked him^-asws about the Words of Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic [33:50] and a believing woman if she gave herself to the Prophet. So he^-asws said: ‘The gifting is not Permissible except for Rasool-Allah^-saww, and as for others, so a marriage is not correct except with a dower’.^[21]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْفُضَيْلِ عَنْ أَبِي الصَّبَّاحِ الْكِنَانِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ لَا تَحِلُّ الْهِبَةُ إِلَّا لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) وَ أَمَّا غَيْرُهُ فَلَا يَصْلُحُ نِكَاحٌ إِلَّا بِمَهْرٍ .

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Muhammad Bin Ismail, form Muhammad Bin Al Fuzayl, from Abu Al Sabbah Al Kinani,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah^-asws having said: ‘The gifting is not Permissible except for Rasool-Allah^-saww, and as for others, so a marriage is not correct except with a dower’.^[22]

Appendix: Some examples of marriage Sermons

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ مِهْرَانَ عَنْ أَيْمَنَ بْنِ مُحْرِزٍ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شِمْرٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ زَوَّجَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) امْرَأَةً مِنْ بَنِي عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَ كَانَ يَلِي أَمْرَهَا فَقَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْعَزِيزِ الْجَبَّارِ الْحَلِيمِ الْغَفَّارِ الْوَاحِدِ الْقَهَّارِ الْكَبِيرِ الْمُتَعَالِ سَواءٌ مِنْكُمْ مَنْ أَسَرَّ الْقَوْلَ وَ مَنْ جَهَرَ بِهِ وَ مَنْ هُوَ مُسْتَخْفٍ بِاللَّيْلِ وَ سارِبٌ بِالنَّهارِ

Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ismail Bin Mihran, from Ayman Bin Muhraz, from Amro Bin Shimr, from Jabir,

(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far^-asws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen^-asws solemnised the marriage of a woman from the Clan of Abdul Muttalib^-as, and he^-asws was in charge of her matter, so he^-asws said: ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj, the Mighty, the Compeller, the Lenient, the Forgiver, and One, the Subduer, the Great, the Limitless. It is the same from you all, the one who speaks secretly and the one who publicises with it, and the one who is concealed at night, and the one is visible by the day.

أَحْمَدُهُ وَ أَسْتَعِينُهُ وَ أُومِنُ بِهِ وَ أَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ وَ كَفَى بِاللَّهِ وَكِيلًا مَنْ يَهْدِ اللَّهُ فَهُوَ الْمُهْتَدِي وَ لَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ وَ مَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ وَ لَنْ تَجِدَ مِنْ دُونِهِ وَلِيّاً مُرْشِداً

I^-asws Praise Him^-azwj, and seek His^-azwj Support, and believe in Him^-azwj, and rely upon Him^-azwj, and suffice with Allah^-azwj as a Representative. The one whom Allah^-azwj Guides, so he is the guided one and there is no straying for him, and the one who He^-azwj Lets to stray, so there is no guidance for him. And you will never find besides Him^-azwj, a Guardian, and a Guide.

وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَ هُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْ‏ءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ بَعَثَهُ بِكِتَابِهِ حُجَّةً عَلَى عِبَادِهِ مَنْ أَطَاعَهُ أَطَاعَ اللَّهَ وَ مَنْ عَصَاهُ عَصَى اللَّهَ

And I^-asws testify that there is no god except for Allah^-azwj, One, there being no associates for Him^-azwj. For Him^-azwj is the Kingdom, and for Him^-azwj is the Praise, and He^-azwj is Able upon everything. And I^-asws testify that Muhammad^-saww is His^-azwj servant and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, having Sent him^-saww with His^-azwj Book, a proof upon His^-azwj servants. The one who obeys him^-saww would have obeyed Allah^-azwj, and the one who disobeys him^-saww would have disobeyed Allah^-azwj.

صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ وَ سَلَّمَ كَثِيراً إِمَامُ الْهُدَى وَ النَّبِيُّ الْمُصْطَفَى ثُمَّ إِنِّي أُوصِيكُمْ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا وَصِيَّةُ اللَّهِ فِي الْمَاضِينَ وَ الْغَابِرِينَ ثُمَّ تَزَوَّجَ.

Blessings me upon him^-saww and his^-saww Progeny^-asws, and abundant greetings, and Imam^-asws of the Guidance, and the Chosen Prophet^-saww. Then, I^-asws hereby advise you all with the fear of Allah^-azwj, for it was an Advice of Allah^-azwj in the past and the bygone (days)’. Then he^-asws solemnised the marriage’.^[23]

أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ الْعَزْرَمِيِّ عَنْ أَبِيهِ قَالَ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يُزَوِّجَ قَالَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ أَحْمَدُهُ وَ أَسْتَعِينُهُ وَ أُومِنُ بِهِ وَ أَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْهِ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ أَرْسَلَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَ دِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ وَ لَوْ كَرِهَ الْمُشْرِكُونَ وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ وَ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَ بَرَكَاتُهُ

Ahmad Bin Muhammad, form Obn Al Azramy, from his father who said,

‘Whenever Amir Al-Momineen^-asws intended to solemnise a marriage, said: ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj! I^-asws Praise Him^-azwj and seek His^-azwj support, and believe in Him^-azwj, and reply upon Him^-azwj, and I^-asws testify that there is no god except for Allah^-azwj, One, there being no associates for Him^-azwj. And I^-asws testify that Muhammad^-saww is His^-azwj servant and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, having Sent Him^-azwj with the Guidance and the true Religion, in order to Make it to prevail over the Religions, all of them, even though the Polytheists may dislike it. And Blessings be upon Muhammad^-saww and his^-saww Progeny^-asws, and greetings be to you all and His^-azwj Mercy and His^-azwj Blessings.

 أُوصِيكُمْ عِبَادَ اللَّهِ بِتَقْوَى اللَّهِ وَلِيِّ النِّعْمَةِ وَ الرَّحْمَةِ خَالِقِ الْأَنَامِ وَ مُدَبِّرِ الْأُمُورِ فِيهَا بِالْقُوَّةِ عَلَيْهَا وَ الْإِتْقَانِ لَهَا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى غَابِرِ مَا يَكُونُ وَ مَاضِيهِ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ مُفْرَداً وَ الثَّنَاءُ مُخْلَصاً بِمَا مِنْهُ كَانَتْ لَنَا نِعْمَةً مُونِقَةً وَ عَلَيْنَا مُجَلِّلَةً وَ إِلَيْنَا مُتَزَيِّنَةً خَالِقٌ مَا أَعْوَزَ وَ مُذِلٌّ مَا اسْتَصْعَبَ وَ مُسَهِّلٌ مَا اسْتُوعِرَ وَ مُحَصِّلٌ مَا اسْتَيْسَرَ

I^-asws advise you, servants of Allah^-azwj, with the fear of Allah^-azwj, Protector of the Bounties and the Mercy, Creator of the people, and Manager of the affairs with Power over it and Mastery for it. Therefore, for Allah^-azwj is the Praise upon the occurrences which are to transpire and what has passed, and for Him^-azwj is the sole Praise being for Him^-azwj, and the sincere Extollation with whatever is from Him^-azwj which would be a Grace to us and a covering upon us and an adornment to us; Creator of what is honourable and a disgrace, what is difficult and what is easy, what is hard and what is soft.

 مُبْتَدِئُ الْخَلْقِ بَدْءاً أَوَّلًا يَوْمَ ابْتَدَعَ السَّمَاءَ وَ هِيَ دُخَانٌ فَقالَ لَها وَ لِلْأَرْضِ ائْتِيا طَوْعاً أَوْ كَرْهاً قالَتا أَتَيْنا طائِعِينَ فَقَضَيهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَ لَا يَعُورُهُ شَدِيدٌ وَ لَا يَسْبِقُهُ هَارِبٌ وَ لَا يَفُوتُهُ مُزَائِلٌ يَوْمَ تُوَفَّى كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ما كَسَبَتْ وَ هُمْ لا يُظْلَمُونَ ثُمَّ إِنَّ فُلَانَ بْنَ فُلَانٍ .

He^-azwj Initiated the creation with an initiation on the first day, initiating the sky, and it was smoke, so He^-azwj Said to it and the earth: “Either come willingly or unwillingly”. They both said: ‘We come willingly’. Thus, He^-azwj Judged them both as seven skies in two days; and neither were its resources severe nor could the fleer precede Him^-azwj nor is a perishable thing lost from Him^-azwj. The Day in which every soul shall be paid what it had earned and they would not be oppressed. Thereafter, so and so …… (are to be married)’.^[24]

مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عِيسَى قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ مُوسَى الْبَغْدَادِيُّ رَفَعَهُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) جَوَابٌ فِي خُطْبَةِ النِّكَاحِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ مُصْطَفِي الْحَمْدِ وَ مُسْتَخْلِصِهِ لِنَفْسِهِ مَجَّدَ بِهِ ذِكْرَهُ وَ أَسْنَى بِهِ أَمْرَهُ نَحْمَدُهُ غَيْرَ شَاكِّينَ فِيهِ نَرَى مَا نَعُدُّهُ رَجَاءَ نَجَاحِهِ وَ مِفْتَاحَ رَبَاحِهِ وَ نَتَنَاوَلُ بِهِ الْحَاجَاتِ مِنْ عِنْدِهِ وَ نَسْتَهْدِي اللَّهَ بِعِصَمِ الْهُدَى وَ وَثَائِقِ الْعُرَى وَ عَزَائِمِ التَّقْوَى وَ نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الْعَمَى بَعْدَ الْهُدَى وَ الْعَمَلِ فِي مَضَلَّاتِ الْهَوَى

Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa who said, ‘Al Abbas Bin Musa Al Baghdady narrated to us,

(It has been narrated) raising it to Abu Abdullah^-asws, in answer to a sermon of the marriage: ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj, the Chosen for the Praise, sincerely for Himself^-saww, His^-azwj Mention being Glorified by Him^-azwj, and His^-azwj Command being Radiated by Him^-azwj. We^-asws Praise Him^-azwj without being in doubt. We^-asws see what we^-asws prepare hoping for its success and as keys to its benefits, and we^-asws attain the needs by it from His^-azwj Presence. And we^-asws seek Guidance of Allah^-azwj with the impeccable Guidance, and firm Security, and determined piety. And we seek Refuge with Allah^-azwj from the blindness after the Guidance, and the actions during straying desires.

وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ عَبْدٌ لَمْ يَعْبُدْ أَحَداً غَيْرَهُ اصْطَفَاهُ بِعِلْمِهِ وَ أَمِيناً عَلَى وَحْيِهِ وَ رَسُولًا إِلَى خَلْقِهِ فَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آلِهِ

And I^-asws testify that there is no god except for Allah^-azwj, One, there being no associates for Him^-azwj, and I^-asws testify that Muhammad^-saww is His^-azwj servant and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, a servant such that he^-saww never worshipped anyone apart from Him^-azwj. He^-azwj Chose him^-saww with His^-azwj Knowledge, and a trustworthy upon His^-azwj Revelation, and a Rasool^-saww to His^-azwj creatures. So, may Allah^-azwj Send His^-azwj Blessings upon him^-saww and his^-saww Progeny^-asws.

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَقَدْ سَمِعْنَا مَقَالَتَكُمْ وَ أَنْتُمُ الْأَحْيَاءُ الْأَقْرَبُونَ نَرْغَبُ فِي مُصَاهَرَتِكُمْ وَ نُسْعِفُكُمْ بِحَاجَتِكُمْ وَ نَضَنُّ بِإِخَائِكُمْ فَقَدْ شَفَّعْنَا شَافِعَكُمْ وَ أَنْكَحْنَا خَاطِبَكُمْ عَلَى أَنَّ لَهَا مِنَ الصَّدَاقِ مَا ذَكَرْتُمْ نَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي أَبْرَمَ الْأُمُورَ بِقُدْرَتِهِ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ عَاقِبَةَ مَجْلِسِنَا هَذَا إِلَى مَحَابِّهِ إِنَّهُ وَلِيُّ ذَلِكَ وَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَيْهِ .

Thereafter, so we^-asws have heard your speeches, and you are the neighbours, the nearest ones we^-asws wish to be in your alliance, and assisting you in your needs, and desiring to be your brethren. So we^-asws have accepted the intercession of your interceders, and we^-asws hereby marry to your proposer upon a stipulation that for her would be from the dower what you have mentioned. We^-asws ask Allah^-azwj Who Endorsed the affairs with His^-azwj Measurement, that He^-azwj Makes the end result of this gathering of ours to be what He^-azwj Loves, Him^-azwj being the Guardian of that and the One Able over it’.^[25]

عِدَّةٌ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ( عليه السلام ) يَخْطُبُ بِهَذِهِ الْخُطْبَةِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الْعَالِمِ بِمَا هُوَ كَائِنٌ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَدِينَ لَهُ مِنْ خَلْقِهِ دَائِنٌ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَ الْأَرْضِ مُؤَلِّفِ الْأَسْبَابِ بِمَا جَرَتْ بِهِ الْأَقْلَامُ وَ مَضَتْ بِهِ الْأَحْتَامُ مِنْ سَابِقِ عِلْمِهِ وَ مُقَدَّرِ حُكْمِهِ أَحْمَدُهُ عَلَى نِعَمِهِ وَ أَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنْ نِقَمِهِ وَ أَسْتَهْدِي اللَّهَ الْهُدَى وَ أَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنَ الضَّلَالَةِ وَ الرَّدَى مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللَّهُ فَقَدِ اهْتَدَى وَ سَلَكَ الطَّرِيقَةَ الْمُثْلَى وَ غَنِمَ الْغَنِيمَةَ الْعُظْمَى وَ مَنْ يُضْلِلِ اللَّهُ فَقَدْ حَارَ عَنِ الْهُدَى وَ هَوَى إِلَى الرَّدَى

A number of our companions, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Khalid, from Abdul Azeem Bin Abdullah who said,

‘I heard Abu Al-Hassan^-asws address with this sermon: ‘The Praise is for Allah^-azwj, the Knower with what is to occur before anyone from His^-azwj creatures realises it. The Originator of the skies and the earth. The Composer of the causes with what the Pens flow with, and the Ordained matters occur from the precedence of His^-azwj Knowledge, and a measurement of His^-azwj Wisdom. I^-asws Praise Him^-azwj upon His^-azwj Bounties, and I^-asws seek Refuge with Him^-azwj His^-azwj Vengeance, seeking Guidance of Allah^-azwj, and I^-asws seek Refuge with Him^-azwj from the straying and the destruction. The one whom Allah^-azwj Guides, so he has travelled upon the ideal road, and has acquired the best of the booties; and the one who Allah^-azwj Lets to stray, so he is perplexed from the guidance and collapsed into the destruction.

وَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ الْمُصْطَفَى وَ وَلِيُّهُ الْمُرْتَضَى وَ بَعِيثُهُ بِالْهُدَى أَرْسَلَهُ عَلَى حِينِ فَتْرَةٍ مِنَ الرُّسُلِ وَ اخْتِلَافٍ مِنَ الْمِلَلِ وَ انْقِطَاعٍ مِنَ السُّبُلِ وَ دُرُوسٍ مِنَ الْحِكْمَةِ وَ طُمُوسٍ مِنْ أَعْلَامِ الْهُدَى وَ الْبَيِّنَاتِ

And I testify that there is no god except for Allah^-azwj, One, there being no associates for Him^-azwj, and that Muhammad^-saww is His^-azwj servant and His^-azwj Rasool^-saww, the Chosen one, and His^-azwj Guardian with whom He^-azwj is Pleased with, and Sent him^-saww with the Guidance. He^-azwj Sent him^-saww upon where there was an interval from the Rasools^-as and there was differing among the nations, and there was an interruption from the ways and the teachings from the Wisdom, and obscurities from the banners of the Guidance and the proofs.

فَبَلَّغَ رِسَالَةَ رَبِّهِ وَ صَدَعَ بِأَمْرِهِ وَ أَدَّى الْحَقَّ الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ وَ تُوُفِّيَ فَقِيداً مَحْمُوداً ( صلى الله عليه وآله ) ثُمَّ إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْأُمُورَ كُلَّهَا بِيَدِ اللَّهِ تَجْرِي إِلَى أَسْبَابِهَا وَ مَقَادِيرِهَا فَأَمْرُ اللَّهِ يَجْرِي إِلَى قَدَرِهِ وَ قَدَرُهُ يَجْرِي إِلَى أَجَلِهِ وَ أَجَلُهُ يَجْرِي إِلَى كِتَابِهِ وَ لِكُلِّ أَجَلٍ كِتابٌ يَمْحُوا اللَّهُ ما يَشاءُ وَ يُثْبِتُ وَ عِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتابِ

So he^-saww delivered the Message of his^-saww Lord^-azwj, and implemented His^-azwj Commands and fulfilled the Truth which he^-saww was upon, and he^-saww passed away and the Praiser^-saww is very much missed. Then, these matters are in the Hands of Allah^-azwj, all of them, Causing them to flow to its reasons and its measurements. So Allah^-azwj Commanded that these flow by His^-azwj Measurement, and Measured it to flow to its term, and flowing it to its prescribed time, and for every term there is a prescribed time. Allah Obliterates whatever He so Desires to and Establishes, and with Him is the Mother of the Book [13:39].

أَمَّا بَعْدُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ جَلَّ وَ عَزَّ جَعَلَ الصِّهْرَ مَأْلَفَةً لِلْقُلُوبِ وَ نِسْبَةَ الْمَنْسُوبِ أَوْشَجَ بِهِ الْأَرْحَامَ وَ جَعَلَهُ رَأْفَةً وَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّ فِي ذلِكَ لَآياتٍ لِلْعالِمِينَ وَ قَالَ فِي مُحْكَمِ كِتَابِهِ وَ هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ مِنَ الْماءِ بَشَراً فَجَعَلَهُ نَسَباً وَ صِهْراً وَ قَالَ وَ أَنْكِحُوا الْأَيامى مِنْكُمْ وَ الصَّالِحِينَ مِنْ عِبادِكُمْ وَ إِمائِكُمْ

Thereafter, Allah^-azwj Mighty and Majestic as a cordiality for the hearts, and as a link linking it to the womb relationships, and Made it a kindness and a mercy, and in that are signs for the worlds. And He^-azwj Said in the Decisive of His^-azwj Book And He it is Who Created a mortal from the water, so He Made for him relationships of lineage and marriage [25:54]; and He^‑azwj Said And marry those among you who are single and those who are fit among your male slaves and your female slaves [24:32].

وَ إِنَّ فُلَانَ بْنَ فُلَانٍ مِمَّنْ قَدْ عَرَفْتُمْ مَنْصِبَهُ فِي الْحَسَبِ وَ مَذْهَبَهُ فِي الْأَدَبِ وَ قَدْ رَغِبَ فِي مُشَارَكَتِكُمْ وَ أَحَبَّ مُصَاهَرَتَكُمْ وَ أَتَاكُمْ خَاطِباً فَتَاتَكُمْ فُلَانَةَ بِنْتَ فُلَانٍ وَ قَدْ بَذَلَ لَهَا مِنَ الصَّدَاقِ كَذَا وَ كَذَا الْعَاجِلُ مِنْهُ كَذَا وَ الْآجِلُ مِنْهُ كَذَا فَشَفِّعُوا شَافِعَنَا وَ أَنْكِحُوا خَاطِبَنَا وَ رُدُّوا رَدّاً جَمِيلًا وَ قُولُوا قَوْلًا حَسَناً وَ أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَ لَكُمْ وَ لِجَمِيعِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ .

And, so and so, son of so and so is from the ones whom you know of his nobility and his lineage, and his doctrine in the etiquettes, and he has desired regarding participating with you and loves to be related to you, and has given you a proposal for your so and so young girl, daughter of so and so, and has extended to her such and such from the dower, the immediate being such and such, and the delayed being such and such (amount). Therefore, accept our intercession and marry our proposer, and return him with a beautiful returning, and say beautiful words, and seek Forgiveness of Allah^-azwj for me^-asws and for you all, and for the entirety of the Muslims’.^[26]

[1] It was practised hundreds of years ago but these days it is not practised

[2] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 37 H 1

[3] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 53 H 4

[4] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 53 H 1

[5] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 53 H 2

[6] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 53 H 3

[7] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Belief and Disbelief CH 131 H 5

[8] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 42 H 1

[9] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 42 H 2

[10] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 44 H 3

[11] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 46 H 1

[12] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 47 H 4

[13] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 47 H 5

[14] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 47 H 10

[15] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 47 H 15

[16] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 47 H 16

[17] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 47 H 18

[18] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 48 H 1

[19] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 49 H 1

[20] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 51 H 1

[21] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 51 H 2

[22] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 51 H 3

[23] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 43 H 2

[24] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 43 H 4

[25] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 43 H 5

[26] Al Kafi – V 5 – The Book of Marriage Ch 43 H 6