‘Abdullāh ibn Mas‘ūd was asked about a man who had married a woman without specifying a dowry for her and then died before consummating the marriage with her. ‘Abdullāh said: Ask if they can find any report (from the Prophet) regarding that. They said: O Abu ‘Abdur-Rahmān, we cannot find (any report about that). He said: Then I will state my personal opinion, and if it is correct then that is from Allah
عن علقمة، والأسود، قالا: أُتِيَ عبد الله في رجل تَزوجَ امرأة ولم يَفرض لها، فتُوفي قبل أن يَدخل بها، فقال عبد الله: سَلُوا هل تجدون فيها أثرا؟ قالوا: يا أبا عبد الرحمن، ما نجد فيها - يعني أثرا - قال: أقول برأيي فإن كان صوابا فمن الله، «لها كمَهْرِ نسائها، لا وَكْسَ ولا شَطَطَ، ولها الميراث، وعليها العِدَّة»، فقام رجل، من أشجع، فقال: في مثل هذا قضى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فينا، في امرأة يقال لها بِرْوَع بنت وَاشِقٍ تزوجت رجلا، فمات قبل أن يَدخل بها، «فقضى لها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بمِثل صَداق نسائها، ولها الميراث، وعليها العِدَّة» فرفع عبد الله يَديْهِ وكبَّر.
Explanation
This Hadīth indicates that if a woman’s husband dies after marriage has been contracted but before the dowry has been received, then she deserves her dowry in full, even if marriage has not been consummated, and even if they had not been in seclusion with each other. If the husband had not specified a dowry, the woman's due dowry should be estimated at a value similar to that which is given to her peers from her relatives.
The Hadīth also indicates that the woman has to observe the waiting period because the marriage had already been contracted. Therefore, if a woman’s husband dies, she must observe the waiting and mourning period even if seclusion or consummation has not occurred. Moreover, she has the right to inherit from her deceased husband because she is a wife who is legally tied to her husband.
Source
Join 50,000+ Muslims
Download for free and never miss a prayer again