Delaying in paying the Dowry

Q: If during the nikah, the wife gave the groom a specified amount of time to give the dowry. Example: The wife gave the groom till August 28th to give Dowry of $300. Since then the groom has put the money into a non-interest savings but the couple needed to take from the savings to make ends meet. The total amount put into savings exceeds the $300 dowry. Is the marriage still valid if $300 isn't given to the bride by august 28th?

Trimming the Beard

Q: Is there any authentic narration which directly and emphatically mentions that trimming the beard is a punishable sin? How is sin and good determined in Islam? Is it Haraam or Makrooh to trim the beard? Did Nabi (Sallahu Alaihi Wasallam) ever trim His Blessed beard? If not, how is a fist lenght beard is an emphasised Sunnah? Which is more rewarding a trimmed fistful beard or a completely untrimmed natural beard? What is the ruling if one trims before it reaches a fist lenght? On what basis does a person continue to be sinful if he trims his beard before it is a fistful while trimmimg after a fistful is not sinful?