Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal: Book 2, Hadith 194
It was narrated that ‘Umar said: I heard ‘Umar say: Do not make women`s dowries expensive, do not make women`s dowries expensive, for had this been a sign of honour in this world or piety before Allah, the first one of you to do it would have been the Prophet (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) did not give any of his wives, and none of his daughters were given, any more than twelve Oasiyyahs [as a dowry. And a man will go to great trouble in order to offer a high dowry to his wife. On one occasion he said: A man would pay his wife a high dowry until he feels resentment towards her and says: You cost me everything I own, even the string to tie a waterskin and hang it up. He said: I was a young Arab boy with a non-Arab mother, and I did not know what a `string` was. `Umar said: And another thing you say of one who is killed in your campaigns and dies that so and so was killed as a martyr, and o and so died as a martyr. But perhaps he loaded the back of his mount with gold and silver for the purpose of trading. So do not say that, rather say what the Prophet (ﷺ) (or what Muhammad) (ﷺ) said: “Whoever is killed or dies for the sake of Allah will be in Paradise.`
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عُمَرَ، قَالَ لَوْلَا آخِرُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَا فُتِحَتْ قَرْيَةٌ إِلَّا قَسَمْتُهَا كَمَا قَسَمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ خَيْبَرَ.
Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal: Book 2, Hadith 194
The above hadith is from the Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal collection of hadiths. Compiled by the renowned Islamic scholar Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the Musnad is a monumental hadith collection distinguished by its unique organizational structure. Unlike other major collections arranged by topic, the Musnad is organized according to the names of the Prophet Muhammad’s companions. This means each section is dedicated to a specific companion, grouping all the narrations they transmitted together. This method offers valuable insights into the Prophet’s teachings as passed down through his closest followers. While the collection is highly respected for its overall authenticity and vast scope, scholars note that it includes narrations of varying strength, and some feature weaker chains of transmission that require expert analysis.
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For more Hadith in Book 2: Musnad `Umar b. al-Khattab (ra)