It is narrated from Abu Salamah bin Abd al-Rahman that he asked Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), the wife of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): How much dowry did the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) give his wives? She replied: His dowry (peace and blessings be upon him) for his wives was twelve uqiyyahs and a nashsh. Then she asked: Do you know what a nashsh is? I said: No. She said: It means half an uqiyyah; so the total comes to five hundred dirhams. This was the dowry that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) gave his wives. This hadith has a sahih (authentic) chain, and practice is upon it. As for the Negus fixing Sayyidah Umm Habibah's dowry at four hundred dinars, that was a display of generosity to the utmost degree, in the manner and magnanimity of kings, through which he assisted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in this matter.