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

Our beloved Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) married off 
four daughters and never gave any one of them a 
‘trousseau’.
The items which were given to Hadhrat Faatimah (radhiallahu 
anha) were in actual fact acquired with the 
mehr-e-mu`ajjal
which was given to her by Hadhrat Ali (radhiallahu anhu). The 
Hadith (no.1356) in Nisai Shareef states that she received a 
shawl, water-skin and a pillow. Some Hadith Kitaabs also 
include a bed. Can these items be even considered as 
‘trousseau’?
What connection do such items even have with the present day 
trousseaus?
There is no reference from the Sahaabah (radhiallahu anhum) 
that any of them ever requested something from the girl’s 
family side, neither did any of them regard it as binding nor 
accept any such ‘gift’. Therefore it is necessary that the groom 
and his family not ask anything from the bride’s side, and 
advise them as to the correct Shar`i status of such things. If the 
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bride’s father wishes to give his daughter anything, then he 
should do so quietly, preferably after the Nikah. If anyone has 
to ask why the normal custom of trousseau, gifts, etc. are not 
exchanged, then it should be told to them that this is a Hindu 
custom, which has absolutely no proof in the Shariah. If gifts 
etc. are exchanged, then although this is superficially 
permissible, nevertheless, it is not the way of Nabi (sallallahu 
alayhi wasallam), who on the occasions of his daughters’ 
Nikahs never fed the groom’s family. If he (sallallahu alaihi 
wasallam) had any money with him, then instead of spending 
on it on entertaining, he would rather spend it on giving his 
daughters’ gifts of items which were essential for their daily 
usage or perhaps on jewellery, all of which will benefit them. 
The groom should muster up the courage and inform his mother 
and sisters and explain to them that they not make his wife’s 
life difficult. They should not burden her with entertaining 
others or coax her to spend her money in avenues which are of 
no benefit. They should not taunt her and make her feel guilty 
in not doing to their bidding or in following some frivolous 
custom. May Allaah Ta`ala save us all from following the 
cultures and customs of others. 
We will now quote from an article on ‘trousseau’ written by 
Mufti Taqi Uthmaani Saheb: 
“Some points regarding ‘trousseau’ 
Some years ago, a buzrug from Syria, Sheikh Abdul Fattaah 
visited our country. A friend of ours came and sat in his 
gathering and seeing a pious Arab-speaking Sheikh, he 
requested duas of him, saying, 
“My two daughters are now 
marriageable, please make dua that Allaah Ta`ala create for 
me the means to get them married.”

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The Sheikh asked, 
“Have you not as yet found suitable