67/45. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5141 — Marriage with Mahr and Quran
If the suitor says, "Marry me to so-and-so," and the guardian says, "I have married her to you for such Mahr"
Hadith About Mahr, an Iron Ring, and Quran Knowledge
Sahih Bukhari : 5141
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5141
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو النُّعْمَانِ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ سَهْلٍ، أَنَّ امْرَأَةً، أَتَتِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَعَرَضَتْ عَلَيْهِ نَفْسَهَا فَقَالَ " مَا لِي الْيَوْمَ فِي النِّسَاءِ مِنْ حَاجَةٍ ". فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ زَوِّجْنِيهَا. قَالَ " مَا عِنْدَكَ ". قَالَ مَا عِنْدِي شَىْءٌ. قَالَ " أَعْطِهَا وَلَوْ خَاتَمًا مِنْ حَدِيدٍ ". قَالَ مَا عِنْدِي شَىْءٌ. قَالَ " فَمَا عِنْدَكَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ". قَالَ عِنْدِي كَذَا وَكَذَا. قَالَ " فَقَدْ مَلَّكْتُكَهَا بِمَا مَعَكَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ ".
Sahl Narrated from:
A woman came to the Prophet,, and presented herself to him (for marriage). He said, "I am not in need of women these days." Then a man said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Marry her to me." The Prophet (ﷺ) asked him, "What have you got?" He said, "I have got nothing." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Give her something, even an iron ring." He said, "I have got nothing." The Prophet (ﷺ) asked (him), "How much of the Qur'an do you know (by heart)?" He said, "So much and so much." The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "I have married her to you for what you know of the Qur'an."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5141In-book reference : Book 67, Hadith 77USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 72
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5141
This Hadith about Mahr shows a simple but clear lesson in Islamic marriage. A woman offered herself for marriage to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and when he did not take her in marriage, another man asked to marry her. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked what he had to give. The man had nothing, so he was told to give something, even an iron ring. When he still had nothing, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم asked how much Quran he knew by heart. The marriage was then made for what he knew of the Quran. The Hadith teaches that marriage has rights and value, and it also shows respect for Quran knowledge in this specific case.
What we learn from this hadith
- A marriage should include something given as Mahr.
- Even a small item can be considered when wealth is limited.
- Knowledge of the Quran has great worth in a believer’s life.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم treated the matter with care and asked clear questions.
