Future bride accepting gifts from the future groom

It has become a custom nowadays that gifts are exchanged between the future bride and groom before marriage. If both parties fail to exchange gifts then this is something looked down upon. Hadrat Mufti Mahmood Gangohi Rahimahullah has stated in Fataawa Mahmoodiyyah on Page 457 Volume 17, that even if the boy happily sends gifts to the girl, then too it won’t be permissible based on the principle that what is common and known in society is like something that is conditional.

If the girl’s party insist and demand that the boy’s party present gifts (or vice versa) then the impermissibilty of such insistence is absolutely apparent. Yes, if exchaging of gifts is not a custom and without demanding gifts, one party presents some gifts to the other party as Hadya, then accepting such a gift will be permitted. However, we are aware that exchanging of gifts between future groom and brides parties have become the custom and norm in society, hence the impermissibility of such a practice.

Also, in many instances in this day and age, boys and girls intending marriage delay the Nikah ceremony for months. This has once again become the norm in society. In the interim, they maintain a relationship wherein gifts are exchanged between both parties. According to Fataawa Hindiyyah, the exchanging of gifts between ‘lovers’ is considered as bribery and the party that receives the gifts do not become owners of it. It should therefore be returned to the donor.

ALLAH TAÁLA KNOWS BEST!