Hazrat Ibn Sirin (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates that Hazrat Abu Al-Ajfa Salmi said: I heard Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) delivering a sermon. After praising Allah, he said: "Beware! Do not increase the dowry (mahr) of women. If this were a matter of honor in this world or a sign of piety in the sight of Allah, then the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) would have been most deserving of it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) did not give more than twelve uqiyah as dowry to any of his wives, nor to his daughters. Some of you increase the dowry of your women and thus create enmity in your own hearts, then say: 'I have endured hardship for you.' And in your battles you say: 'So-and-so was martyred, so-and-so was martyred.' Perhaps he had set out with gold and silver loaded on his camel's saddle or tail, seeking the wealth and riches of this world. Beware! Do not say such things. Rather, say as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'Whoever is killed or dies in the way of Allah, he alone is a martyr.'"