Gifts given during Engagement

<QUESTION>

I was going to marry someone, but it did not happen. This man gave me money many times. He also gave me allot of gifts. Now our relationship has been cut. I want to know, should I pay him this money back or not? It’s a big amount by the way for me not for him.

<ANSWER>

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

The renowned Hanafi jurist (faqih), Imam al-Haskafi (Allah have mercy on him) sheds light on this very issue in his Durr al-Mukhtar. He states:

“One proposed (and got eng........click on the link to read the rest of answer