Is the mother of the bride's request for the suitor to purchase specific items for her daughter, based on the purchases of other relatives, considered part of the religion and Sharia, or merely customs and traditions?

According to the most preponderant scholarly opinions, furnishing the marital home is an obligation upon the husband. In this regard, the condition of the wife and the women of her country, as well as the financial state of the husband—whether affluent or not—should be taken into consideration, as this falls under maintenance provided in a reasonable manner (bil-ma‘ruf). The Quran often refers to customary practice (ʿurf) in many matters related to marriage and its ancillary issues, while emphasizing the importance of considering financial capacity, as stated in His Almighty’s saying: "And upon the father is their sustenance and their clothing according to what is reasonable. No soul is burdened beyond its capacity" (Al-Baqarah: 233). Ibn Al-Jawzi said in Zad al-Masir: "And in His saying {according to what is reasonable} there is an indication that what is obligatory is commensurate with the man's situation, whether in hardship or ease." Al-Qurtubi said: "His saying {according to what is reasonable} means according to what is customarily known in the Sharia, without negligence or excess. Then the Almighty clarified that spending is according to the husband's wealth." And likewise, His Almighty’s saying: "And provide for them—the rich according to his means, and the poor according to his means—a reasonable provision. This is an obligation upon the doers of good" (Al-Baqarah: 236), and His Glorious saying: "And for divorced women is a provision according to what is reasonable—a duty upon the righteous" (Al-Baqarah: 241), and His Almighty’s saying: "So marry them with the permission of their families and give them their due compensation according to what is reasonable" (An-Nisa: 25).