67/33. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5121 — Mahr Can Be Simple
A woman can present herself to a righteous man (for marriage)
Hadith About Mahr, an Iron Ring, and Qur'an
Sahih Bukhari : 5121
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5121
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو غَسَّانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو حَازِمٍ، عَنْ سَهْلٍ، أَنَّ امْرَأَةً، عَرَضَتْ نَفْسَهَا عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زَوِّجْنِيهَا. فَقَالَ " مَا عِنْدَكَ ". قَالَ مَا عِنْدِي شَىْءٌ. قَالَ " اذْهَبْ فَالْتَمِسْ وَلَوْ خَاتَمًا مِنْ حَدِيدٍ ". فَذَهَبَ ثُمَّ رَجَعَ فَقَالَ لاَ وَاللَّهِ مَا وَجَدْتُ شَيْئًا، وَلاَ خَاتَمًا مِنْ حَدِيدٍ، وَلَكِنْ هَذَا إِزَارِي وَلَهَا نِصْفُهُ ـ قَالَ سَهْلٌ وَمَا لَهُ رِدَاءٌ. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَمَا تَصْنَعُ بِإِزَارِكَ إِنْ لَبِسْتَهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَيْهَا مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ، وَإِنْ لَبِسَتْهُ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَيْكَ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ ". فَجَلَسَ الرَّجُلُ حَتَّى إِذَا طَالَ مَجْلَسُهُ قَامَ فَرَآهُ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَدَعَاهُ أَوْ دُعِي لَهُ فَقَالَ " مَاذَا مَعَكَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ". فَقَالَ مَعِي سُورَةُ كَذَا وَسُورَةُ كَذَا لِسُوَرٍ يُعَدِّدُهَا. فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَمْلَكْنَاكَهَا بِمَا مَعَكَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ".
Sahl bin Sa`d Narrated from:
A woman presented herself to the Prophet (for marriage). A man said to him, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! (If you are not in need of her) marry her to me." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "What have you got?" The man said, "I have nothing." The Prophet (ﷺ) said (to him), "Go and search for something) even if it were an iron ring."The man went and returned saying, "No, I have not found anything, not even an iron ring; but this is my (Izar) waist sheet, and half of it is for her." He had no Rida' (upper garment). The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "What will she do with your waist sheet? If you wear it, she will have nothing over her; and if she wears it, you will have nothing over you." So the man sat down and when he had sat a long time, he got up (to leave).When the Prophet (ﷺ) saw him (leaving), he called him back, or the man was called (for him), and he said to the man, "How much of the Qur'an do you know (by heart)?" The man replied I know such Sura and such Sura (by heart)," naming the Suras The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I have married her to you for what you know of the Qur'an."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5121In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 57USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 54
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5121
This hadith is often searched as the iron ring mahr hadith or the hadith about Qur'an as mahr. A woman presented herself to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and a man asked to marry her. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم first asked what he had, showing that a marriage gift should be considered. The man had nothing, so he was told to look even for an iron ring. When he could not find that, his offer of half an izar was not accepted because it would leave one of them without covering. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم then asked what Qur'an he knew and married her to him for what he knew of the Qur'an.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked about what the man could offer as mahr.
- Even a small item like an iron ring was mentioned as something to search for.
- The man's clothing offer was not suitable because it could not properly serve both people.
- Knowledge of the Qur'an was treated with honor in this marriage case.
