What is the ruling on a wife refusing to give her husband the money he paid as a dowry for her, fearing that he will take it and divorce her?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
A woman is not obliged to return the dowry to her husband, because it has become her property to dispose of as she wishes. It is not chivalrous for the husband to ask for its return. However, if the husband is experiencing real hardship, it is commendable for his wife to help him by returning the dowry, or a part of it, to him willingly, based on the Almighty's saying: (But if they, of their own accord, remit any part of it to you, take it and enjoy it with good cheer).
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/37754
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 37754
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy