A WRONG CUSTOM

9. Dowry ~ 214 ~ rather than the guidelines of Islam. One manifestation of such a misguided practice is the fixing of heavy dowers — much in vogue in the brides’ families, as this is regarded as safeguarding the girls’ interests. In this regard the Dictionary of Islam says: The custom of fixing heavy dowers, generally beyond the husband’s means, especially in India, seems to be based upon the intention of checking the husband from ill-treating his wife, and, above all, from his marrying another woman, as also from wrongfully or causelessly divorcing the former. For in the case of divorce the woman can demand the full payment of the dower.181 The fixing of a substantial dower for the above purposes rests on the supposition that the dower has to be fixed at the time of marriage, but not handed over on that occasion. This gives it a “deterrent” value, which it could not otherwise have, i.e. if it was immediately paid. This supposition is quite un-Islamic. As mentioned above there are only two lawful forms of dower in