is that: "It is paid to the wife and to her only as an honor and a respect given to her. And to show that he has a serious desire to marry her and is not simply entering into the marriage contract without any sense of responsibility and obligation or effort on his part."

So, DOWRY is paid by the bridegroom (or his family) to the bride for the purpose to secure the girl for such happenstances as widowhood or loss of other means to survive or loss of other property.

And why it is considered "shameful"?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but is it in India (or China) where the bride pays the dowry to the bridegroom?

Honestly...I am yet to meet a QATARI woman who would cheat on her husband.

I think it's how one perceive one's self which makes it shameful. I mean...if one feel that he/she is like a property or a livestock with a price, that's detestful. But if you see the other side, it's the man/bridegroom's way of showing you're far worth all those wealth in his eyes...

Your friend may have had the jitters (of course, it was the first time she'll sleep with a man) but they have all the time to know each other now that they're married.

Have you asked her lately HOW SHE'S FEELING RIGHT NOW?