[Bihar al-Anwar , v.

[Bihar al-Anwar , v.75, p.285] The Commander of the Faithful (Pbuh) said: Deceiving one who has trusted in you is equal to atheism. [Mizan al-Hikmat , pp.166-167] He has also said: One who deceives people will be harmed by his/her deception. [Mizan al-Hikmat , pp.166-167] Regarding the characteristics of the pious, Imam Ali (Pbuh) has said the following in Sermon 193 of Nahj ul-Balaghah : The pious ones do not get close to people by deception.

The Prophet (Pbuh) said: Deception, trickery and treason will result in the Hell Fire. He also said: One who is a Muslim does not engage in deception or trickery. I heard from Gabriel that deception and trickery will result in the Hell Fire.

The issues related to concealing defects of men and women; deception and trickery; continued marriage; separation or divorce; the duty of man to pay the nuptial gift or not having to pay it are extensively discussed in volume 100 of Bihar al-Anwar , Vafa Press, Beirut starting from page 361 and also in the practical treatise of great Shiite scholars. The Necessity to Pay the Nuptial Gift The two sides should agree on a reasonable amount after honest negotiations.

The less strict you are about the amount of the nuptial gift, the more God will be pleased. The leaders of Islam have instructed us to be lenient about this issue to ease the marriage of our young daughters and sons. The families should not imagine that an expensive nuptial gift arranged will prevent the disruption of the family and will help its continuation. There have been many married young women who have had expensive nuptial gifts but returned to their parent's home after marriage.

They got seriously hurt and fell apart! You should rely on God's Favor in these issues, and avoid what might cause pain, belittling or insulting of either party in the future. Once an amount has been agreed upon, and the bride and the groom have accepted it, then half of it is due to be paid immediately upon the establishment of the marriage contract, and the other half must be paid after the marriage is consummated. If it is all paid at the time of the marriage contract, it is much better.

The youth must realize that the payment of the nuptial gift is obligatory, and refusal to pay it is a great sin.