Dowry
Law not presently binding for Bahá'ís in the West[edit]
"We...feel it is timely...to state those laws listed in the "Synopsis and Codification of the Kitab-i-Aqdas" which are not at present binding upon the friends in the western world...IV.C.1.j The law concerning the payment of a dowry by the groom to the bride on marriage."
See also[edit]
Inclusion of dowry during marriage ceremony[edit]
- See Lawh-i-Nikáh
See also[edit]
Familiar concepts and customs such as the dowry are redefined in the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh, with all variants abolished, and changed into a symbolic act of limited value from the bridegroom to the bride[edit]
"With the Revelation of Bahá'u'lláh many familiar concepts, customs and institutions are redefined and take on new meaning. One of these is the dowry. The institution of dowry is a very ancient practice in many cultures and takes many forms. In some countries it is a payment made by the parents of the bride to the bridegroom; in others it is a payment made by the bridegroom to the parents of the bride, called a "bride-price". In both such cases the amount is often quite considerable. The law of Bahá'u'lláh abolishes all such variants and converts the dowry into a symbolic act..."
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 93)
Dowry provisions have antecedents in the Bayán[edit]
"These provisions [concerning the dowry] have their antecedents in the Bayán.
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 93)
"The summary of the seventh gate: Unite the elif in Ba (men and women) in accordance with what we have revealed in the book. Afraid to disobey me. Tell the men: in cities, the dowry of the women we fixed mithqáls 95 gold and 95 in villages mithqáls money.
We can get it down to 19 mithqáls: but when we sent down as we descend from unit to unit (1). (1) [note: From 19 to 19, it does not establish fractions.]
This is when man and wife are happy.
When the marriage took place, you can get closer to each other. Contentment disappears when the separation occurs.
Must, on the sheet of marriage each spouse signs, and they have to say: "We all are happy with the contentment of God."
Indeed! God has fixed all the jewels of the earth's surface as the dowry of this woman that was created for the One God should show. And this is a blessing from God toward Him Whom God shall manifest: he is among those who thank."
- (Automated Google Translation (May 30, 2012) with minor clean-up of provisional French translation of the Bayan, 6th chapter)
"In answer to a question about the dowry, Bahá'u'lláh stated:
"Whatever is revealed in the Bayán, in respect to those residing in cities and villages, is approved and should be carried out. However, in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas mention is made of the lowest level. The intention is nineteen mithqáls of silver, specified in the Bayán for village-dwellers. This is more pleasing unto God, provided the two parties agree..."
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 95)
Obligatory (where law is applicable)[edit]
"No marriage may be contracted without payment of a dowry..."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 66)
"The Dowry"
- "Marriage is conditioned on payment of a dowry."
Dowry requirements[edit]
Location of information on the topic (all information also included below)[edit]
"The Synopsis and Codification, section IV.C.1.a.-o., summarizes and synthesizes the provisions in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas and Questions and Answers concerning...the payment of the dowry (Q and A 12, 26, 39, 47, 87, and 88)"
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 88)
"The Synopsis and Codification, section IV.C.1.j.i.-v., summarizes the main provisions concerning the dowry."
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 93)
Dowry to be paid by the bridegroom to the bride[edit]
"The dowry is to be paid by the bridegroom to the bride...
...the bridegroom presents a gift of a certain limited value to the bride."
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 93)
Permissibility of formally delivering a promissory note if full payment is not possible[edit]
"QUESTION: In connection with the dowry, what if the bridegroom cannot pay this sum in full, but instead were to formally deliver a promissory note to his bride at the time of the wedding ceremony, on the understanding that he will honour it when he is able to do so?
"ANSWER: Permission to adopt this practice hath been granted by the Source of Authority."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Question and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 39)
"If the full payment of dowry is not possible the issue of a promissory note is permissible."
"Bahá'u'lláh indicates that, if, at the time of the wedding, the bridegroom is unable to pay the dowry in full, it is permissible for him to issue a promissory note to the bride (Q and A 39)."
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 93)
Payment amount[edit]
Based on the man: 19 mithqáls of pure gold for city-dwellers, and 19 mithqáls of silver for village-dwellers[edit]
"No marriage may be contracted without payment of a dowry, which hath been fixed for city-dwellers at nineteen mithqáls of pure gold, and for village-dwellers at the same amount in silver. ..."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 66)
"QUESTION: Concerning the dowry for village-dwellers which is to be of silver:...And what is to be done if one is a city-dweller and the other a village-dweller?
"ANSWER: ...if he be a city-dweller, the dowry is of gold, and if he be a village-dweller, it is of silver."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Question and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 87)
"The dowry is fixed at 19 mithqáls of pure gold for city-dwellers, and 19 mithqáls of silver for village-dwellers..."
"It [the dowry] is fixed at 19 mithqáls of pure gold for city-dwellers, and 19 mithqáls of silver for village-dwellers (see note kan94).
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 93)
Preferable for man to content himself in paying nineteen mithqáls of silver[edit]
"...If he content himself, however, with a payment of the lowest level, it shall be better for him according to the Book. God, verily, enricheth whomsoever He willeth through both heavenly and earthly means, and He, in truth, hath power over all things."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 66)
"QUESTION: Concerning the dowry.
"ANSWER: Regarding dowry, the intention of contenting oneself with the lowest level is nineteen mithqáls of silver."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Question and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 26)
"In answer to a question about the dowry, Bahá'u'lláh stated:
"Whatever is revealed in the Bayán, in respect to those residing in cities and villages, is approved and should be carried out. However, in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas mention is made of the lowest level. The intention is nineteen mithqáls of silver, specified in the Bayán for village-dwellers. This is more pleasing unto God, provided the two parties agree. The purpose is to promote the comfort of all, and to bring about concord and union among the people. Therefore, the greater the consideration shown in these matters the better it will be... The people of Bahá must associate and deal with each other with the utmost love and sincerity. They should be mindful of the interests of all, especially the friends of God.
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 95)
"It is preferable that a man content himself with the payment of 19 mithqáls of silver."
Forbidden to pay more than 95 mithqáls[edit]
"...Whoso wisheth to increase this sum, it is forbidden him to exceed the limit of ninety-five mithqáls. Thus hath the command been writ in majesty and power..."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Kitáb-i-Aqdas, par. 66)
"It is forbidden to pay more than 95 mithqáls."
Depending on location and wealth, may pay 1-5 vahíds of gold or silver; to carry out whatever is agreed between bridegroom, bride, and their parents; questions on the law to be referred to the Universal House of Justice which will enact laws and legislate on such secondary matters[edit]
"'Abdu'l-Bahá, in one of His Tablets, summarized some of the provisions for determining the level of the dowry. The unit of payment mentioned in the extract, cited below, is the "vahíd". One vahíd is equivalent to nineteen mithqáls. He stated:
"City-dwellers must pay in gold and village-dwellers in silver. It dependeth on the financial means at the disposal of the groom. If he is poor, he payeth one vahíd; if of modest means, he payeth two vahíds; if well-to-do, three vahíds; if wealthy, four vahíds; and if very rich, he giveth five vahíds. It is, in truth, a matter for agreement between the bridegroom, the bride, and their parents. Whatever agreement is reached should be carried out.
"In this same Tablet, 'Abdu'l-Bahá encouraged the believers to refer questions concerning the application of this law to the Universal House of Justice, which has "the authority to legislate". He stressed that "it is this body which will enact laws and legislate upon secondary matters which are not explicit in the Holy Text"."
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 95)
Determination of location for calculation[edit]
Dowry payment is based on location of the permanent residence of the bridegroom, not of the bride or of his birthplace[edit]
"QUESTION: Concerning the dowry for village-dwellers which is to be of silver: is it the bride or bridegroom who is intended or both of them? And what is to be done if one is a city-dweller and the other a village-dweller?
"ANSWER: The dowry is determined by the dwelling-place of the bridegroom; if he be a city-dweller, the dowry is of gold, and if he be a village-dweller, it is of silver."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Question and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 87)
"QUESTION: What is the criterion for determining if one is a city-dweller or a village-dweller? If a city-dweller taketh up residence in a village, or a village-dweller in a city, intending to settle permanently, what ruling is applicable? Is the place of birth the deciding factor?
"ANSWER: The criterion is permanent residence and, depending on where this is, the injunction in the Book must be observed accordingly."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Question and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 88)
"Bahá'u'lláh specifies that the criterion for determining the dowry payment is the location of the permanent residence of the bridegroom, not of the bride (Q and A 87, 88)."
- (Notes to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 94)
"The dowry is fixed at 19 mithqáls of pure gold for city-dwellers, and 19 mithqáls of silver for village-dwellers, depending on the permanent residence of the husband, and not of the wife."
Definition of town and village (for dowry?) determined by civil and municipal authorities[edit]
"As to the distinction between "town" and "village"; this is a technical matter which devolves on civil and municipal authorities to define. Whatever is specified by them should be adopted by the friends."
Refund of the dowry and divorce[edit]
Refund of dowry not normally permitted with a divorce even if the divorce occurs before the consummation (actually need to support the wife until the divorce is complete; see also Year of Patience)[edit]
"QUESTION: Should antipathy develop between a couple after the Marriage Verses have been read and the dowry paid, may divorce take place without observance of the year of patience?
"ANSWER: Divorce may legitimately be sought after the reading of the Marriage Verses and payment of the dowry, but before the consummation of the marriage. In such circumstances there is no need for observance of a year of patience, but recovery of the dowry payment is not permissible."
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Question and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 12)
"Should either party, following the recital of the specifically revealed verse and the payment of the dowry, take a dislike to the other before the marriage is consummated, the period of waiting is not necessary prior to a divorce. The taking back of the dowry, however, is not permitted."
"Concerning Mr... divorce: He has no right to demand from his wife a refund of the marriage expenses he incurred. In the Aqdas it is quite clear that the husband must not only give the dowry but must support his wife until the time when the divorce is completed. In view of this she is not required to repay expenses of the marriage, etc."
(As part of a prenuptial agreement), refund of the dowry may be demanded (and the marriage invalidated) if spouse discovered not to be a virgin (but only if the marriage was made conditional on virginity); however, more meritorious to conceal the matter[edit]
"QUESTION: Supposing that a man hath wed a certain woman believing her to be a virgin and he hath paid her the dowry, but at the time of consummation it becometh evident that she is not a virgin, are the expenses and the dowry to be repaid or not? And if the marriage had been made conditional upon virginity, doth the unfulfilled condition invalidate that which was conditioned upon it?
"ANSWER: In such a case the expenses and the dowry may be refunded. The unfulfilled condition invalidateth that which is conditioned upon it. However, to conceal and forgive the matter will, in the sight of God, merit a bounteous reward.
- (Bahá'u'lláh, Question and Answers to the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, no. 47)
"Should the husband, after the payment of the dowry, discover that the wife is not a virgin, the refund of the dowry and of the expenses incurred may be demanded."
"If the marriage has been conditioned on virginity the refund of the dowry and of the expenses incurred may be demanded and the marriage invalidated. To conceal the matter, however, is highly meritorious in the sight of God."
"In one of these cases you cite, for example, that of a wife who is found by her husband not to have been a virgin, the dissolution of the marriage can be demanded only "if the marriage has been conditioned on virginity""
- (Monogamy, Sexual Equality, Marital Equality, and the Supreme Tribunal, section on "Sexual Equality")
