Fatwa No : 82684
Ruling on Gifts Given to the Bride at the Time of Marriage

Ruling on Gifts Given to the Bride at the Time of Marriage

What do the esteemed scholars and muftis say regarding the following matter: At the time of marriage, the bride receives various gifts—such as clothes, jewelry, and other items—from the groom’s side, and the groom personally gives her some of these gifts with his own hands. In the event of divorce, does the groom have the right to reclaim all those gifts mentioned above, or do they become the bride’s rightful property? Kindly guide us in this matter and earn our gratitude. Clarify, and you shall be rewarded.

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

It should be clarified that the clothes, shoes, and similar items given to the bride by the groom or his family at the time of marriage are given with the intention of ownership. Therefore, the bride becomes the sole owner of these gifts, and neither the husband nor anyone else has the right to reclaim them even after divorce. Since these items fall under the category of "hibah" (gift given with ownership), it is discouraged (makruh) in Islamic jurisprudence to take them back. In fact, a hadith likens the person who reclaims a gift to a dog that vomits and then licks it back—an action that is undoubtedly vile and disgraceful. Hence, reclaiming such gifts should be avoided. The same ruling applies to gold and silver jewelry: if the jewelry was given to the bride as her property, then reclaiming it is impermissible. However, if the jewelry was only loaned to her for use temporarily and she was not made the owner—as is the common practice in some cultures—then in the case of separation, taking back only that borrowed jewelry is permissible. Otherwise, it is not.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

کمافى مشكاة المصابيح: وعن ابن عمر وابن عباس أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: «لا يحل للرجل أن يعطي عطية ثم يرجع فيها إلا الوالد فيما يعطي ولده ومثل الذي يعطي العطية ثم يرجع فيها كمثل الكلب أكل حتى إذا شبع قاء ثم عاد في قيئه» . رواه أبو داود والترمذي والنسائي وابن ماجه وصححه الترمذي اھ (2/ 910)۔
في الفتاوى الهندية: في الفتاوى الغياثية الرجوع في الهبة مكروه في الأحوال كلها ويصح كذا في التتارخانية اھ (4/ 385)۔
وفي حاشية ابن عابدين: والمعتمد البناء على العرف كما علمت اھ (3/ 157)۔
وفي الدر المختار: (صح الرجوع فيها بعد القبض) أما قبله فلم تتم الهبة (مع انتفاع مانعه) الآتي (وإن كره) الرجوع (تحريما) (5/ 698)۔