Nikaah & Marriage Issues

Q: How much should one love his spouse?

Q: I heard from the honorable Ulama a hadith regarding nikah. Nabi Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said: 

أعظم النكاح بركةً أيسره مؤنةً

The most blessed nikah is the one which carries less expense.

So in this hadith Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) encouraged the ummah to spend the least on the occasion of nikah. I would like to ask you a few questions regarding the 'Money Spent' in Nikah.

1. What type of expense is referred to in this hadith that should be kept least to achieve the maximum barakah (benefit) of nikah?

2. Does giving gifts such as clothing, perfumes, etc. to the groom's family before the nikah ceremony fall under the category of nikah expenses as mentioned in the hadith?

3. Does holding a feast for the groom's family and brides close relatives after the nikah, at the time of rukhsati, fall under the category of 'nikah expenses' as mentioned in the hadith?

4. Does gifting the groom's family with garlands, flowers, and sweets after the nikah as a way to express happiness fall under the category of 'nikah expenses mentioned in the hadith above?

5. Should all these activities mentioned above be avoided to achieve the blessings of nikah?

6. If the bride's father is wealthy enough to carry out the expenses of such activities like giving gifts, holding feasts, etc. and does it happily without having the niyah to show off but just to express happiness,will this approach be against the hadith of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) that encourages us to spend the least on the occasion of nikah?

Q: I would like to know if a husband has stated that all the costs for the children going forward needs to be split 50/50 between the parents, will he still be liable for payment that he has not contributed to even though it is for the children (e.g. medical aid costs that he has paid 50% of his share since the child's birth).

Q: If my brother died, can I marry his wife?

Q: Does a father have a right over his child born out of wedlock? Are children born out of wedlock attributed to the father in Islam?

Q: Is there a reward for a woman whose husband has taken another wife?

Q: I am born a Muslim but I got distracted at some point in my life and commited adultery with my ex boyfriend. However I got married last year with a virgin man. I did not repent before getting married because I did not realize that it had to be done. I have been realising my mistakes lately and I cannot tell you how ashamed I am of my past. I repented to Allah several times after marriage. 

Now I got to know that in the Quran it is mentioned that a fornicator cannot marry a pure man. I have also read that the scholars say that if a person repents, only then can they marry a pure man. As I have mentioned that I have repented from my heart and I still am repenting but it is after marriage.

Will my marriage still be valid? Or do I need to renew the marriage contract? My husband doesn’t know about my past. Please let me know what should I do now?

Q: Is it permissible in Islam to file the nikaah while the bride is in her menses (haidh)? Is nikaah jaiz for the girl in the days of her menses (haidh)?

Q: Husband has 2 wives; one is a housewife and the other one is working. The husband said to the working wife that she should bear all the expenses by herself because she is working. What should be the distribution of nights as the working wife only visits on weekends and for the whole week the husband spends his time with the one who is the housewife.

Q: I have a step brother from my father's second wife and he has a daughter same age as me. Am I allowed to marry her? Her mother (my step brother's wife) is my uncle's wife's sister.