Woman in Islamic Shariah

9. Dowry ~ 208 ~ The different sects of sunnis do not differ in usul, or the fundamentals of religious belief, but only in minor rules of practice and in certain legal interpretations. Since, in some respects, separate doctrines are broached, four schools of jurisprudence have been established, known as Hanafi, Shafi’i, Hanbali and Maliki. All of these schools agree that delay in handing over the dower, whether in full, or in part, is lawful, provided that the period fixed for payment is not indefinite. The Shafi’is also stipulate that the “period of payment should have been fixed in time.”170 170. Abdur Rahman al-jaziri, Al-Fiqh ‘ala’l Madahib al-Arba’ah, 4/153-156. NO HEAVY BURDEN The dower, which may be in cash or in kind, has to be fixed taking into account the bridegroom’s position in life. That is, it should never be more than he is easily able to afford, whether it be a lump sum in cash or some article of value. The jurists have different views to offer on what the minimum