Marriage has been made into such a difficult affair that people say, "Build a house! Conduct 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 they have taken from you a firm covenant." (Quran 4:21)
This verse clarifies that marriage is not an event that requires spending lakhs of rupees; it is a life contract.
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) also emphasized this.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "The marriage that is conducted with the least expense is the one that is most blessed (with God's hidden grace)."
Narrated by: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)
Book: Ahmad 23388
Look at 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, "Messenger of Allah! I have come to offer myself to you as a gift (to marry you without any dowry)." The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) looked up at her, looked directly at her, and then lowered his gaze. He then hung his head. Seeing that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) had not made any decision regarding her, the woman sat down. 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 a dowry?" He replied, "By Allah, Messenger of Allah! I have nothing." The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Go to your family and see if you can find anything!" He went and looked, then returned and said, "By Allah, Messenger of Allah! I found nothing." "See if you can find even a ring made of iron!" the Prophet (peace be upon him) sent him to look. He went again, returned, and said, "Messenger of Allah! I could not even find a ring made of iron. But here is my waist wrap." To this, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, "If you wear this waist wrap, she will have nothing on you, and if she wears it, you will have nothing on her." Then the man sat there for a long time. Then he got up. As 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 said, "Such and such chapter, such and such chapter, such and such chapter are with me," counting them. 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 for the chapters of the Quran that you have memorized. You may go."
Narrated by: Sahl bin Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him)Book: Bukhari 5030
In this religion that has made marriage so simple, today, due to dowry and extravagant feasts, a situation has been created where marriage requires lakhs of rupees.
The list of extravagant weddings continues with music concerts, fireworks, colorful decorated cars, and pandals set up to encompass the entire town.
When Abdur Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Medina, the Prophet (peace be upon him) made him and Sa'd bin Rabi' (may Allah be pleased with him) brothers. Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) was wealthy. He said to Abdur Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him), "I will give you half of my wealth. (I will divorce one of my wives and) marry her to you." To this, Abdur Rahman (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "May Allah bless your family and wealth! Show me the marketplace." He brought cheese and ghee as profit and took it to the house where he was staying. After a short while, he came with the scent of perfume. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked him, "What is the matter?" He replied, "Messenger of Allah! I have married an Ansari woman." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked, "What did you give her as dowry?" He replied, "Gold equal to the weight of a date." To this, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "At least give a sheep as a wedding feast!"
Narrated by: Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)Book: Bukhari 2048, 2049
If the details of Abdur Rahman bin Awf's marriage are only known after the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) passed away, 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 wedding feast. This should also be done in a simple manner according to one's ability, and there is no religious basis for incurring debt and spending lakhs of rupees on a feast.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) to bring a leather mat for the Walima feast. It was spread, and dates, cheese, and ghee were placed on it. (A simple meal called 'Hais' was prepared and offered to the people as a feast.)
Narrated by: Anas (may Allah be pleased with him)Book: Bukhari 4213
Although giving a feast at a wedding is permissible, it should be within our means. It should not be done by taking loans or selling what we have. Following the above Hadith, we can host a feast with what we have within our capacity.
This is the simple marriage that Islam teaches. Those who have turned the simple marriage taught by Islam into a difficult affair through dowry, extravagance, gifts, and feasts from the bride's side, which are contrary to religious principles, will have to answer to God in the hereafter.