The Concept of Dowry in the Qur'an (Perspective of Shaykh Ahmad bin Mushtofa al-Farran in the Book of Tafsir of Imam Shafi'i)

This thesis examines the concept of dowry in the Qur'an through the lens of the interpretation of Shaykh Ahmad Musthafa Al-Farran in his work, Tafsir Imam Shafi'i. This research aims to analyze and reconstruct Al-Farran's understanding of dowry, as well as place it in a comparative context with the views of other madhhabs and mufassir. The research method used is library research with a descriptive-analytical approach. Primary data is obtained from the Tafsir of Imam Shafi'i, while secondary data comes from books of tafsir, fiqh, and other supporting literature. The results of the study show that Al-Farran interpreted dowry (QS. An-Nisa': 4) as the absolute right of the wife (nihlah) which has a legal and philosophical dimension. He emphasized that dowry is a symbol of a husband's appreciation, earnestness, and responsibility, not just the price of a woman. Furthermore, Al-Farran does not limit dowry only to material possessions, but also accommodates non-material dowries in the form of benefits, such as the teaching of the Qur'an or hadith, as long as they have an agreed value. Comparatively, Al-Farran's view is in line with the Shafi'i School of Prayer which requires dowry, but it offers greater flexibility in the form of dowry. His thinking is classified as progressive and visionary, because it is able to provide solutions to the burdensome problems of dowry in the modern era. This study concludes that the concept of dowry according to Al-Farran is not only relevant to answer the challenges of the times, but also shifts the paradigm of marriage from a materialistic orientation to a spiritual and functional one, so that it can be an important reference in contemporary munakahat fiqh discourse.
Keywords: Mahar, Al-Qur'an, Ahmad Musthafa Al-Farran, Tafsir Imam Shafi'i, Fiqh Munakahat.