Marriage has become such a difficult affair that people say, "Try building a house! Try conducting a wedding!" The society has been made to believe that one can only get married if they have lakhs of rupees.
However, Islam has made marriage very simple.
"And how could you take it when you have already enjoyed each other? And they have taken from you a firm covenant." (Al-Quran 4:21)
This verse clarifies that marriage is not an event requiring expenditure of lakhs of rupees; it is simply a life contract.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) also emphasized this.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The marriage which is blessed with the least expense is the most abundant in its blessings."
Narrated by: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)
Book: Ahmad 23388
Consider a marriage that took place during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
A woman came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah! I have come to offer myself to you as a gift (to marry you without any dower)." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) raised his gaze towards her, looked at her directly, and then lowered his gaze. He then lowered his head. Seeing that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had not made any decision regarding her, the woman sat down where she was. Then one of the companions stood up and said, "Messenger of Allah! If you do not need her, then marry her to me." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, "Do you have anything to offer as dower?" He replied, "By Allah, I have nothing, O Messenger of Allah!" The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Go to your family and see if you can find anything!" He went and searched, then returned and said, "By Allah, I could not find anything, O Messenger of Allah!" The Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed, "See if you can find even an iron ring!" He went again and returned, saying, "O Messenger of Allah! I could not even find an iron ring. But here is my waist wrapper." To this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "If you give her this waist wrapper, she will have nothing on her, and if she wears it, she will have nothing on you." Then the man sat there for a long time. Then he got up. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saw him leaving, he ordered him to be called back. When he was summoned, he asked, "What do you have memorized of the Quran?" He replied, "Such and such chapter, such and such chapter, and such and such chapters I have memorized." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, "Can you recite them?" He replied, "Yes (I can)." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "I have married this woman to you in exchange for what you have memorized of the Quran. You may go."
Narrated by: Sahl bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him)Book: Bukhari 5030
If the details of the marriage of this companion, Abdur Rahman bin Awf, only became known to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) later, one can understand how simple marriages were conducted during the Prophet's time.
In this hadith, the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasized that the groom should provide a feast during the marriage. This too should be done in a simple manner according to one's ability, and there is no basis in religion for incurring debt and spending lakhs of rupees to host a feast.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered a leather mat to be brought for Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) when he hosted the wedding feast. It was spread, and dates, cheese, and ghee were placed on it. (A simple meal called 'Hais' was prepared and offered as a feast to the people.)
Narrated by: Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) Book: Bukhari 4213
Although providing a feast at a wedding is permissible, it should be within one's means. It should not be done by borrowing money or selling what one has. Following the above hadith, we can host a feast with what we have within our capacity.
This is the simple marriage that Islam advocates. Those who have turned the simple marriage shown by Islam into a difficult affair through dowry, extraction, gifts, and feast hosted by the bride's family, which are contrary to religious principles, will have to answer to God in the hereafter.