Imam (Dr) Abdulhameed Shuaib
Agaka
Imam (Dr) Abdulhameed Shuaib
Agaka
The Minimum Dowry for Islamic Marriage is N13,438 –
Cleric
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.
Speaking in his weekly Islamic radio programme monitored in
Ilorin, Dr. Agaka 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.
Dr. Abdulhameed 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.
By PRNigeria