This is a very bad tradition and an abominable deviation. It is contrary to the divine book, the Prophet’s tradition and the unanimous view of scholars. It is obligatory in Islam that the husband should pay his wife a dowry, or mahr. For various reasons, including men’s unwillingness to tie themselves to a marital relationship, women in Western countries may resort to this practice. The Islamic Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League and Majallat al-Buhuth al-Islamiyyah, (i.e. Journal of Islamic Research), have both discussed this issue.
