Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salaams. Can you shed some light on Shighaar marriages.Are such marriges allowed even if dower is paid although the real intention or conditon is the exchange of grooms

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Answer:

Shighaar marriages

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 9.90B Narrated by Abdullah

Nafi narrated to me that 'Abdullah said that Allah's Messenger (saws) forbade the Shighar (marriage). I asked Nafi', "What is the Shighar?" He said, "It is to marry the daughter (or sister) of a man and marry one's daughter (or sister) to that man (at the same time) without ‘Mehr’.

Sahih Muslim Hadith 3299 Narrated by Abu Hurayrah

Allah's Messenger (saws) prohibited Shighar (marriage). Ibn Numayr added: ‘Shighar means that a person should say to the other person: “Give me the hand of your daughter (or sister) in marriage and I will (in return) marry my daughter (or sister) to you.”’

The Messenger of Allah (saws) specifically forbade the ‘Shighar’ marriage where the intention was merely the exchange of grooms. The absolute majority of the scholars and jurists in Islam are of the opinion that ‘Shighar’ marriages are unlawful, regardless of whether the ‘mehr’ is paid or not. And Allah Alone Knows Best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan