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Mahr in Islam: meaning and amount

The mahr is a gift the husband gives his wife with the marriage contract; it belongs to her, not her family. There is no upper limit, and the Sunnah is to make it easy. On the minimum, schools differ: Hanafi ten dirhams, Maliki three dirhams, while Shafi‘i and Hanbali set no fixed minimum.

Meaning and evidence

Quran
وَءَاتُواْ ٱلنِّسَآءَ صَدُقَٰتِهِنَّ نِحۡلَةٗۚ فَإِن طِبۡنَ لَكُمۡ عَن شَيۡءٖ مِّنۡهُ نَفۡسٗا فَكُلُوهُ هَنِيٓـٔٗا مَّرِيٓـٔٗا

Und gebt den Frauen ihre Morgengabe als Geschenk. Wenn sie für euch aber freiwillig auf etwas davon verzichten, dann verzehrt es als wohlbekömmlich und zuträglich.

Surah An-Nisa 4:4
  • It may be money, a benefit, or teaching Quran; the Prophet ﷺ married a man on teaching part of the Quran (Bukhari, Muslim).
  • Prompt and deferred parts: the mahr may be split by agreement.
  • No one may take it from her without her consent.

Practical tips

  • Write the mahr in the contract and on paper; state the prompt and deferred portions.
  • Avoid excess that burdens young couples, and avoid showing off.
  • The mahr is separate from wedding costs, jewellery and gifts.

This guide is for learning, not a fatwa. Where scholars differ we show the positions of the schools; for your own situation ask a trusted scholar or Islamic centre in your country.

Häufige Fragen

What if divorce occurs before consummation?

She is entitled to half the named mahr (2:237).

Koran: QuranEnc. Hadith-Übersetzungen: HadeethEnc. Quellen stehen bei jedem Eintrag. Fehler entdeckt? Sagen Sie es uns.