And give women their dowries as a free gift…He said:It means, give them the dowry (ṣadāq) as a gift to them from God, Mighty and Majestic is He. Indeed dowry (niḥla) is religion (diyāna). He continued:The Prophet said: ‘The basest of sins before God, Exalted is He, is to prevent a worker from being paid, and to stop a woman receiving her dowry (mahr).’ His words, Exalted is He: