الصداق
Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If anyone gives two handfuls of Sawīq or dates to his wife as dowry, he has made her lawful for himself."
عن جابر بن عبد الله -رضي الله عنهما- أن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال: «من أعطى في صَداق امرأة مِلءَ كَفَّيْهِ سَوِيقَا أو تمرا فقد استَحَلَّ».
شرح الحديث :
The Hadīth proves that the dowry is not an essential element of the marriage contract, nor is it a compensation intended for itself. Rather, it is an honorary present given by the husband to his wife out of veneration and as consolation. Hence, it is permissible that such invaluable items as those mentioned in the Hadīth be given as dowry when there are no other things that are more valuable. This proves that the Law Giver encourages marriage and urges it and that it should not be left on account of poverty, so that the dowry does not act as an obstacle blocking the way before that benevolent contract, which leads to praiseworthy consequences, some of which are the following: 1. Maintaining the chastity of men and women. 2. Reproduction. 3. Achieving the goal of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) of boasting of the huge number of his followers, as they form a great force in the face of their enemies in the worldly life. He will also boast before all the Prophets, peace be upon them, of the big number of his nation on the Day of Judgment.