Reducing The Mahr Is The Sunnah: Increasing Dowry For
Marriage Nowadays A Great Deal
Islamic Rulings -
Living Shariah Verdicts
Islamic Questions & AnswersI noticed that people nowadays are increasing
the mahr (dowry) for marriage a great deal.
Is this Sunnah? Does sharee'ah stipulate a certain
limit for the mahr that should not be overstepped?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Marriage is one of the blessings of Allaah, and one of
His signs. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"And among His Signs is this, that He created for you
wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose
in them, and He has put between you affection and
mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people
who reflect"
[al-Room 30:21]
Allaah commanded guardians to arrange marriages for
those who are under their care, as He says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And marry those among you who are single (i.e. a man
who has no wife and the woman who has no husband) and
(also marry) the Saalihoon (pious, fit and capable
ones) of your (male) slaves and maid-servants (female
slaves). If they be poor, Allaah will enrich them out
of His Bounty. And Allaah is All-Sufficient for His
creatures' needs, All-Knowing (about the state of the
people)"
[al-Noor 24:32]
That is because of the great interests that are served
by marriage, such as increasing the numbers of the
ummah, and causing the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) to feel proud before the other
Prophets, and protecting both husband and wife from
falling into haraam… and other great benefits.
But some guardians (walis) put obstacles in the way of
marriage, which prevented those under their care from
getting married in many cases.
That is because they exaggerate concerning the mahr,
and demand huge dowries which a young man who wants to
get married cannot afford, until marriage becomes
something extremely difficult for many of those who
want to get married.
The mahr is a right that is given to the woman, as
enjoined by Islamic sharee'ah, as an expression of the
man's desire to marry her. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"And give to the women (whom you marry) their Mahr
(obligatory bridal-money given by the husband to his
wife at the time of marriage) with a good heart"
[al-Nisa' 4:4]
This does not mean that the woman is a product to be
sold, rather it is a symbol of honour and respect, and
a sign that the husband is willing to shoulder his
responsibilities and fulfil his duties.
Sharee'ah does not stipulate a certain limit for the
mahr that should not be overstepped, but it does
encourage reducing the mahr and keeping it simple.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: "The best of marriage is that which is made
easiest." Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan, classed as saheeh
by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami', 3300.
And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "The best of mahrs is the simplest (or most
affordable)." Narrated by al-Haakim and al-Bayhaqi,
classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami',
3279.
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said to a man who wanted to get married: "Look
(for something to give as a dowry), even if it is a
ring of iron." Agreed upon.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) set the highest example for his ummah in that
regard, so that a clear understanding of the basic
principles would be implanted in society, and a spirit
of simplicity would spread among the people.
Abu Dawood (2125) and al-Nasaa'i (3375) narrated from
Ibn ‘Abbaas that ‘Ali said: "I married Faatimah (may
Allaah be pleased with her) and said: ‘O Messenger of
Allaah, let me go ahead with the marriage.' He said:
‘Give her something.' I said: ‘I do not have
anything.' He said: ‘Where is your Hutami shield?' I
said, ‘I have it with me.' He said, ‘Give it to her.'"
Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa'i,
3160.
This was the mahr of Faatimah, the daughter of the
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him), the leader of the women of Paradise.
This reinforces the fact that in Islam, the mahr is
not something that is sought for its own sake.
Ibn Maajah (1887) narrated that ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab
said: "Do not go to extremes with regard to the
dowries of women, for if that were a sign of honour
and dignity in this world or a sign of piety before
Allaah, then Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) would have done that before you. But he
did not give any of his wives, and none of his
daughters were given, more than twelve uqiyah. A man
may increase the dowry until he feels resentment
against her and says, ‘You cost me everything I own,
and caused me a great deal of hardship'." Classed as
saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah, 1532.
"Do not go to extremes" means do not exaggerate in
increasing the dowry. "A man may increase the dowry
until he feels resentment against her" means, until he
begins to hate her when he is still paying off the
debts incurred because of this mahr because it is too
hard for him, or whenever he thinks about the matter.
From Haashiyat al-Sindi ‘ala Ibn Maajah.
Twelve uqiyah is equivalent to 480 dirhams, i.e.,
approximately 135 silver riyals (134.4). This was the
mahr of the daughters and wives of the Prophet (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him).
Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] said in Majmoo' al-Fataawa,
32/194:
Whoever thinks of increasing his daughter's mahr and
asking for more than the daughters of the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
were given – when they were the best women in this
world in all aspects – is an ignorant fool. The same
applies to asking for more than the Mothers of the
Believers were given. This applies even if one is well
off and can afford it. With regard to one who is poor,
he should not give a mahr greater than he can afford
to pay without any hardship.
He also said in al-Fataawa al-Kubra:
The words of Imam Ahmad according to the report of
Hanbal imply that it is mustahabb for the dowry to be
four hundred dirhams. This is the correct view in
cases where the man can afford it. It is mustahabb to
pay this amount and no more.
In Zaad al-Ma'aad (5/178), Ibn al-Qayyim quoted some
of the ahaadeeth that indicate that the mahr should be
reduced and that there is no minimum amount. Then he
said:
These ahaadeeth indicate that there is no minimum
amount for the mahr… and that exaggerating concerning
the mahr is makrooh, and that it reduces its barakah
(blessing). End quote.
Hence it is clear that what people do nowadays,
increasing the mahr and exaggerating concerning it, is
something that goes against the sharee'ah.
The wisdom behind reducing the mahr and not increasing
it is quote clear:
This makes it easier for people to get married, so
that they will not be diverted from it, which will
result in all kinds of moral and social corruption.
For more information on the harm caused by
exaggerating concerning the dowry, please see question
no. 12572.
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