Sir: Dowry, also known as jahaiz, is very much in practice in many underdeveloped countries and Pakistan is one of them. It seems that without it, no wedding can take place. In Pakistan, it is the tradition that a wedding becomes more like a financial nightmare for parents. It seems parents are marrying their sons just to get their houses furnished. The middle class tries its best to give its daughters whatever is possible, falling into debt just to fulfil the demands of the groom’s family. Many instances can be found where a father saves money all his life to marry off his daughter. This is what our culture has become: lavish ceremonies and dowries. Some families pretend to be very pious, saying that they do not want anything, but soon after the wedding they make the girl’s life difficult by taunting her all the time. To finish this custom, the man himself should take a stern stance against dowry. This custom is now so deeply embedded in our society that girls and their families can never think of a dowry-free wedding. We like to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) but what happens when it comes to dowry? The Prophet (PBUH) gave his daughter, Hazrat Fatima, important household articles like a praying mat and the Quran. Dowry is not a part of Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “The best of marriages is one, which is least burdensome in the financial sense to the families of the bride and groom.” Dowry can be finished by the mutual understanding of both families realising the expenses involved. MAHNOOR MALIK Via Email