The Quranic Basis
“And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously [nihlatan].” (4:4)
“There is no blame upon you if you divorce women you have not touched nor specified for them an obligation [mahr]. But give them [a gift of] compensation — the wealthy according to his capability and the poor according to his capability — a provision according to what is reasonable, a duty upon the doers of good.” (2:236)
“But if you want to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a large amount [of gold] as [her] bridal gift, do not take [back] from it anything.” (4:20)
The last verse illustrates the principle: even if the marriage fails and the husband divorces the wife, he may not take the mahr back (except through khula where she offers it).
The Types of Mahr
By Specification
Mahr Musamma (specified mahr): The amount or item agreed upon in the marriage contract. This is the norm and the preferred form — both parties know exactly what the mahr is.
Mahr al-Mithl (equivalent mahr): When no mahr was specified in the contract (or it was specified as zero, which is valid but requires correction), the wife is entitled to a mahr equivalent to what women of her family and status typically receive. This is determined by the court if disputed.
By Timing of Payment
Mahr Mu’ajjal (prompt mahr): Paid immediately at or before the marriage contract — transferred at the time of the ‘aqd (contract). The wife receives it before entering the marital home.
Mahr Mu’ajjal (deferred mahr): A portion (or all) of the mahr deferred to a future date — typically due upon divorce or death. This is common practice and fully permissible.
Many contemporary Muslim marriages split the mahr: a prompt portion paid at the wedding and a deferred portion that becomes due if the marriage ends.
The Minimum Mahr
Hanafi school: Minimum is 10 dirhams of silver — approximately equivalent to the price of a basic garment. This minimum prevents the mahr from being so small as to be insulting.
Maliki school: The minimum is 3 dirhams. The mahr must have financial value; anything less is not valid.
Shafi’i and Hanbali schools: No specific minimum — even a single ring worth less than a dirham is valid. The emphasis is on the gift itself, not its monetary value.
What Happens at Divorce or Death
If divorced before consummation: The wife receives half the specified mahr (Quran 2:237). If no mahr was specified, she receives a mut’ah (consolation gift) of reasonable value.
If divorced after consummation: The wife keeps the full mahr — it may not be taken back.
If the husband dies: The full mahr is a debt owed by the estate before inheritance is distributed — the wife receives the full mahr even from the estate.
If khula (wife-initiated divorce): The wife returns the mahr to the husband as the compensation for dissolution of the marriage (Quran 2:229).
The Mahr and the Sunnah
The Prophet (SAW) gave Khadijah (RA) twenty young she-camels as her mahr. When Ali (RA) sought to marry Fatima (RA), the Prophet asked: “What will you give her?” Ali had nothing but his armor. The Prophet said: “Give her the armor.” The mahr of Fatima al-Zahra is historically recorded as her father’s gift — the Prophet remitted it himself to his son-in-law.
The prophetic guidance on the mahr amount: “The best marriage is the easiest.” (Ibn Hibban, authenticated) — Islam discourages making the mahr so large that it becomes a burden that prevents marriage.
See also: Fiqh Overview, Fiqh Madhabs, Iddah, Khula, Muamalat, Halal And Haram