Chapter on the Guardian, Witnesses, Proposal, and Dowry

When Imam Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ali al-Ridha عليه السلام married the daughter of al-Ma'mun, Imam عليه السلام delivered the following sermon for himself: "All praise is due to Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Completer of blessings through His سبحانه وتعالى mercy, and the Guide to gratitude through His سبحانه وتعالى favor. May Allah سبحانه وتعالى send blessings upon Muhammad صلى الله عليه وعلى آله وسلم, the best of His سبحانه وتعالى creation, in whom He سبحانه وتعالى gathered all virtues that He سبحانه وتعالى distributed among the previous messengers, and He سبحانه وتعالى entrusted his inheritance to those whom He سبحانه وتعالى chose for his succession. May Allah سبحانه وتعالى grant him peace and blessings in abundance. Here stands (your political ruler) Commander of Faithful, who has married me to his daughter in accordance with what Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Almighty and Glorious, has ordained for Muslim women over believing men, either to retain them honorably or to release them kindly. I have offered her as a dowry what the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) offered to his wives, which is twelve uqiyyah and a nashsh (approximately 500 dirhams). And I have added to it, from my own wealth, one hundred thousand (dirhams). O' (political ruler) Commander of the Faithful, you have married her to me, have you not?" He (al-Ma'mun) replied: "Yes." Imam عليه السلام said: "I accept, and I am satisfied."