An Islamic cleric, Dr AbdulHameed Shuaib Agaka has said that the current minimum value of the dowry to be paid for an Islamic marriage that is in consonance with Nigeria’s current economy is N13, 438.
Agaka, who was quoted by PRNigeria as saying this during his weekly Islamic radio programme monitored in Ilorin, said that the payment of dowry was the most important aspect of an Islamic marriage.
He said: “The acceptable dowry in any Islamic marriage based on Islamic traditions and the current economic reality today in Nigeria’s local currency stands at N13,438. However, it is permissible for wealthy husbands to pay amounts higher than the official acceptable fee.”
According to the cleric, who was a former Scholar with the School for Arabic Studies and Bayero University Kano, the marriage would become invalid and illegal without the dowry being paid.
He said: “Prospective husbands could provide valuable items for the dowry to their intended wives based on Islamic injunctions like rings, cows, parcels of land, gold and other valuables for the payment.
“The dowry in Islam is paid by the man to his wife-to-be as an honour and respect given to her and to show his sincerity and commitment to the marriage which also signifies his sense of responsibility and obligation.”
The former don advised Muslims to always abide with the validities under the Islamic marriage law to curb promiscuity, immorality, and cases of unwanted children in the society.
Agaka who is also the Chief Imam of Agaka in Ilorin Emirate of Kwara State, condemned what he described as ostentatious spending in Islamic marriages, saying that what was most significant in any Islamic marriage was payment of dowry to the bride and adequate care and protection after marriage.
“It is only the payment of dowry that guarantees legal access and full control of wife by the husband while ensuring adequate provision and protection of the family after the marriage,’’ the cleric said.
