Categories
What is Mahr?
Mahr is the mandatory gift that the husband gives to his wife at the wedding. In Arabic terms, such a gift is called Mahr.
Allah says
“And give the women (on marriage) their Mahr as a gift” (Quran 4:4)
The Muslim groom must first make a financial deal with the bride before the wedding. This financial arrangement is known as Mahr, and it is a gift to her that she may utilize in any way she sees fit. If the girl does not have anything from her home, she can use the Mahr as a form of protection. To agree on the Mahr sum, the parties frequently sign Mahr contracts.
It is entirely upon the wife to decide what to do with the amount received in the form of Mahr. It is simply up to the wife to determine what to do with the Mahr money she has received. No one is permitted to remove any portion of it from her but herself. The wife’s parents do not even share the rights to Mahr.
Later, if the wife requests a divorce, she will return the Mahr to him and get a Khula. When a divorce occurs due to minor reasons, the wife is usually permitted to keep the Mahr.
Why is Mahr important?
Nikah contains a few key components that it would be incomplete without. One of these is the Mahr, like material or non material gift by the husband to his wife
Allah says in this Hadith,
“So marry the slave girls with their people’s permission. and give them their compensation according to what is reasonable.” [An-Nisa 4:25]
Allah made it necessary for the latter to give them anything when they marry them, even after their guardian’s agreement. In an identical spirit, Allah commanded Muslim males to continue to financially support their wives’ basic food, clothing, shelter, and maintenance requirements after the marriage.
How much Mahr?
Our Prophet [SAW] says,
“Go and look for something, even if it is a ring of iron.”
When Prophet Muhammad performed or aided the weddings of his companions, he approved of a variety of Mahr, ranging from a simple iron ring to a piece of gold the size of a date stone to the knowledge of the Quran and Hadith.
Why is dowry haram in Islam?
Dowry is the amount of money, gold, property, automobiles, and other valuables paid by the bride’s family to the groom and his family in exchange for marrying her.
Dowry is a non-Islamic habit that is widely practised. It includes pomp and circumstance, as well as other nefarious elements. To demand Dowry is haram. As a result, the practice of Dowry should be abolished.
However, it is permissible for daughters and sons-in-law to accept presents if their parents freely offer them out of love.
Bottom line
So, Mahr is an obligation according to the Holy Quran. Mahr is a bride’s right that should be provided to her. The gift given by the husband is a symbol of respect to the woman.
