Fatwa No : 83843
Ruling on Taking Back Items Given to the Wife After Termination of Marriage

Ruling on Taking Back Items Given to the Wife After Termination of Marriage

What do the honorable Muftis say regarding the following matter: When a marriage is terminated, what is the Shari‘ah ruling regarding the exchange or return of items between the families of the husband and wife, especially the mothers of both sides? Which items are returnable and which are not? After the termination of the marriage, the husband’s family has demanded the return of certain items. The details of their demands are as follows:
1. The money the husband used to give his wife for her expenses should be returned.
2. The gifts the husband gave to his wife should be returned.
3. The gold set and bangles that the husband gave to his wife should be returned.
4. The gifts given by the husband’s family should also be returned.
5. In short, all the gifts in any form should be returned.
6. What are the items that the bride’s family is entitled to reclaim according to Shari‘ah? For instance, is the entire dowry (jahez) given to the bride at the time of her departure to the husband's home returnable? What about the ring, watches, and money given to the groom—are those also to be returned?
7. As long as the woman is in her ‘iddah (waiting period), who is responsible for her expenses, and how are her maintenance costs determined?
8. Kindly explain the Shari‘ah guidelines for a fair and proper approach to mutual dealings after a divorce. Furthermore, when the marriage is terminated by the husband's side, what conditions are imposed upon the bride's side?

الجوابُ حامِدا ًو مُصلیِّا ً

1. It should be clarified that if the husband gives certain items to his wife merely for use (without granting her ownership), then such items remain the property of the husband, and in the case of separation, he has the right to reclaim them. However, items given to the wife as maintenance (nafaqah) or as gifts with full ownership and possession cannot be lawfully reclaimed by the husband after separation. Therefore, in the present case, any money given by the husband to the wife for her expenses after marriage, or any gifts handed over to her with full ownership, or anything given by the wife to the husband with full ownership—none of these can be demanded back by either party according to Islamic law, and such demands must be avoided. However, if the gold set and bangles given by the husband were given merely as a loan for use and not as a gift—or if, according to local custom, such items are typically given by the husband to the wife only for use—then in that case, the husband is permitted to demand their return.
2. If the husband’s family gave gifts to the wife, and the wife’s family gave gifts to the husband with proper ownership and possession, then those items have become the property of the respective recipients. Their return may only be valid through mutual consent or a legal decision. However, demanding the return of items given as gifts is highly discouraged both Islamically and ethically. Therefore, both parties must refrain from making such demands.
3. The dowry items that the parents gave to their daughter at the time of marriage as a gift or hibah are solely her property. Therefore, after divorce, the husband or his family has no Shar‘i right to withhold or claim those dowry items. Moreover, the husband is obligated to bear the expenses of the wife during her ‘iddah, and the amount of maintenance can be mutually agreed upon.

مأخَذُ الفَتوی

كما في الدر المختار: (وتتم) الهبة (بالقبض) الكامل (ولو الموهوب شاغلا لملك الواهب لا مشغولا به) والأصل أن الموهوب إن مشغولا بملك الواهب منع تمامها، (5/ 690)
و في حاشية ابن عابدين (رد المحتار): فإن كل أحد يعلم أن الجهاز ملك المرأة وأنه إذا طلقها تأخذه كله، وإذا ماتت يورث عنها ولا يختص بشيء منه اھ (3/ 585)
و في الدر المختار: (جهز ابنته ثم ادعى أن ما دفعه لها عارية وقالت هو تمليك أو قال الزوج ذلك بعد موتها ليرث منه وقال الأب) أو ورثته بعد موته (عارية ف) المعتمد أن (القول للزوج ولها إذا كان العرف مستمرا أن الأب يدفع مثله جهازا لا عارية) (3/ 156)
و في الفتاوى الهندية: الرجوع في الهبة مكروه في الأحوال كلها ويصح كذا في التتارخانية اھ (4/ 385)
وفيھا أیضاً: ومنها الزوجية سواء كان أحد الزوجين مسلما أو كافرا كذا في الاختيار شرح المختار وإذا وهب أحد الزوجين لصاحبه لا يرجع في الهبة وإن انقطع النكاح بينهما ولو وهب لأجنبية ثم تزوجها أو وهبت لأجنبي ثم زوجت نفسها منه كان للواهب أن يرجع في الهبة لأن النكاح بعد الهبة لا يمنع الرجوع كذا في فتاوى قاضي خان اھ (4/ 386)
وفيھا أیضاً: المعتدة عن الطلاق تستحق النفقة والسكنى كان الطلاق رجعيا أو بائنا أو ثلاثا حاملا كانت المرأة أو لم تكن كذا في فتاوى قاضي خان اھ (1/ 557)