All praise is due only to Allaah. We laud Him and beseech His

The current concerns 
are:
 How much of wealth and trousseau did the bride bring in 
with her?
 
Even worse than this is that the groom’s family actually ask 
and bargain for the bride’s gifts.
It is as though marriage has 
now become nothing more than a trade – a business transaction.
In this ‘market’ every prospective groom becomes the 
auctioneer who auctions himself off to the highest bidder.
Whoever has the need may enter the bargaining and partake of 
this ‘market’. The whole issue has become a distasteful and 
rotten affair. It has become a heartless and censurable 
‘transaction.’ Such people cannot be called the ‘Servants of 
Rahmaan’ rather they are the ‘servants of shaitaan’. In essence, 
that person who cannot appreciate and value a good and chaste 
woman, cannot be regarded as a ‘Servant of Rahmaan’. In a 

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49
There is no such justification in Islaam for this rigid custom 
(giving these gifts –and exchanging ‘parcels’), although people 
use the excuse that it is a token of happiness which is 
expressed. This excuse does not warrant dogmatism in this 
practice. Some people feel that because Nabi (sallallahu alayhi 
wasallam) gave his daughter a parting present, so this is 
justification for them. This humble writer, after having perused 
all proofs in this regard does not see any justification for 
adopting this practice. 
It is true that on the occasion of Hadhrat Faatimah’s 
(radhiallahu anha) Nikah to Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu), 
Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) gave her some essentials (a 
mill, date-pit pillow and water-skin), but he (sallallahu alaihi 
wasallam) did not give this to her as a ‘trousseau’ or parting 
present. Yes! In fact, Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu) was under 
the care of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) after his father’s 
demise and Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was the guardian 
of Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu). In this regard, Nabi 
(sallallahu alayhi wasallam) felt it his duty to assist in 
providing the basic household needs for one who was in his 
care, to whom Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had given his 
daughter in marriage. Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) did not 
give these (essential household) items to his daughter as a 
parting gift. 
Another important point to remember is that these items which 
Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) procured for them was paid 
for by Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu). Hence, it was not a ‘gift’ 
from the father to his daughter. This incident should, therefore, 
not be equated to the Hindu custom of trousseau and made to 
be part of Islaam.
50
Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) had also married off his other 
daughters and nowhere is it recorded that he (sallallahu alaihi 
wasallam) gave a ‘trousseau’ or gift to any of his other 
daughters. If this truly was a token of goodwill and a part of the 
Deen, Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) would never have 
deprived his other daughters thereof.
Sad to say that after living for so many centuries amongst the 
Hindus, we have now become accustomed to their practices and 
incorporated them into our daily lives. We make dua that 
Allaah Ta`ala imbibe in us the spirit and grant us the guidance 
to enliven the Sunnah, abandon the ways of the kuffaar and that 
He guide us to make our marriages simple affairs. 
Wedding or trade? 
In present times of greed and shamelessness, the principles and 
morals of the Deen have been set aside.