NO HEAVY BURDEN

9. Dowry ~ 209 ~ amount should be, but all are agreed that it should be substantial enough for something to be bought against it. Any amount which is sufficient for a purchase is acceptable as dower.I71 There are no traditions which encourage an increase in the dower, whereas there are many traditions which enjoin the fixing of smaller dowries. In all such cases, Islam lays down guidelines rather than issuing strict commandments. That is why Islam has not totally forbidden any increase in the dowry, and it is left to tradition to carry on the principle of fixing smaller sums. There is a well known saying of the Prophet Muhammad, according to ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas, that “the best woman is one whose dower is the easiest to pay.”172 Another saying refers to such a bride as “the most blessed woman.”173 “The state of blessedness,” according to a third saying, resides in “her being easy to deal with and taking less dowry.”174 ‘Aishah was once asked how much dower the Prophet gave his wives. She replied that it was 12 auqiyah and 1 nash (one nash being equal to half an auqiyah, that is, about 500 dirhams). This was the