The Present Era and Dowry: A Sore

By ✍️ Muhammad Masood Rahmani Arariavi 

Today, we are living in the 21st century, where humans talk about establishing settlements on the moon, and thanks to technology, the world has become a global village. But the sad reality is that even in this modern era, our thinking is still wandering in the dark alleys of ignorance. "Dowry" is that bloody custom that has shattered the dreams of millions of daughters.
Someone has beautifully said:

A daughter's life was spent in a mud house,
The father kept collecting gold in the shop.

Humanity Sacrificed to Greed

In the present era, dowry is no longer just a custom, but has become a trade. A sacred relationship like marriage has become like a market transaction. The groom's family makes demands beyond their means. It is heartbreaking to see a poor father staking his entire life's earnings for his daughter's farewell:

He sells the chain on his feet,
He is a poor father, he sells the picture.
Sometimes he sells every drop of his heart's blood,
Then a father sells his destiny.

A Terrifying Reality

Newspapers and social media are filled with news every day where a daughter, tired of being taunted for not bringing dowry, commits suicide, or a in-laws burns the daughter-in-law alive for bringing less dowry. The biggest tragedy is that many virtuous and righteous girls are growing old sitting at home simply because they do not have wealth to give:

When asked the reason, the man said,
The groom was upset because the dowry was less.

Solution and Our Role

Speeches alone are not enough to eradicate this sore. We have to take practical steps. Young people must pledge that they will not become "sold grooms". We have to question those people in society who wear the cloak of respectability and bargain:

When you ask for dowry from her poor parents,
Do you have a lot of faith in your decency?

Conclusion

A daughter is a blessing from Allah, do not make her a burden. Demanding dowry is actually negating one's manhood and selling one's honor. Let us pledge that we will raise our voice against this curse so that no father has to carry his daughter's corpse instead of her
palanquin.

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