Read on Twitter
Someone said sisters should stop taking mahr in cash & instead have a certain amount deposited upfront and open up an IRA with a starting balance to which the rest of the mahr would be added in monthly installments, ending with 1000s by retirement instead of “bangles”.
The tweet also mentioned that such a method would fulfill the “purpose” of mahr in case of death or divorce.
Now I’m not well versed in finance or islamic finance but I know that the purpose of mahr isn’t security in case of death or divorce.
Now I’m not well versed in finance or islamic finance but I know that the purpose of mahr isn’t security in case of death or divorce.
From a strictly textual view, Qur’anic & jurisprudence, mahr is a bridal gift bc the woman is quite literally giving herself to you.
If we used security as a premise, women with sunnah mahr (or less) would be financially devastated after a divorce or the death of their husband.
If we used security as a premise, women with sunnah mahr (or less) would be financially devastated after a divorce or the death of their husband.
As for bangles, gold value 
/
based on markets so that shouldn’t be discouraged. It fulfills two purposes in an agreeable manner (emergency fund + gift) whereas a man could feel enslaved if he’s sending $200/month to her IRA for decades. This can clearly lead to hostility.
/ based on markets so that shouldn’t be discouraged. It fulfills two purposes in an agreeable manner (emergency fund + gift) whereas a man could feel enslaved if he’s sending $200/month to her IRA for decades. This can clearly lead to hostility.
The perspective also failed to account for people who can’t afford to spend $200 a month on extra expenses let alone invest it into a retirement plan. This is how we realize that what should and shouldn’t be a commendable Islamic practice isn’t up to us to discern.
I understand that ‘modern problems require modern solutions’, but there’s a line to be drawn. Sometimes we need to take the back seat and ask whether our ideas are in line with prophetic practice.
It’s a contemporary trend to make everything an investment because ‘time is money’ but not everything should be about savings and wealth.
The sunnah set a standard so why add to it by thinking our ideas are more efficient? Allah has completed the religion and His favor upon us.
The sunnah set a standard so why add to it by thinking our ideas are more efficient? Allah has completed the religion and His favor upon us.
The Prophet taught us everything we need to live a fulfilled life. Let’s be practical and save ourselves from looking like fools by equating our amazing modern intelligence to the Book of Allah and the hikmah that He sent down through His Messenger.
May Allah correct our affairs and may He forgive me if I said anything out of line, ameen.
