Manners in Speech

The cautious tone of one who fears God Once when Caliph Umar ibn Khattab was delivering a sermon, after praising and glorifying God, he told the members of the congregation not to be too extravagant in the dowries they gave on the occasion of marriage. “If I hear of anyone exceeding the 400 dirhams given as a dowry by the Prophet, I will confiscate the excess amount and deposit it in the treasury.” While Umar was still standing on the pulpit, a woman of the Quraysh arose and said, “Commander of the Faithful, are we to do what the Book of God says, or what you say?” “What the Book of God says,” replied Umar, and asked her the purpose of her question, “You have just forbidden dowries exceeding a certain amount. But the Qur’an says: “Do not take from her the dowry you have given her, even if it be a talent of gold.” “Everyone knows better than Umar,” said the Caliph, repeating these words a second and a third time. Then he again addressed the people: “I have just told you not to be extravagant in your marriage dowries,” he said and then, modifying his earlier statement, he continued, but it is for you to decide how much you give; just think if dowries were indicative of high rank in hereafter, surely the daughters and wives of the Prophet would have been more deserving of them. (KANZ AL-UMMAL)