[Q 697] Mahar: Obligatory, Amount, and Acceptable Forms

Question

Is mahar compulsory when getting married and what are the rulings regarding what the woman wants? Can it be something which isn’t necessary money?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

It is obligatory upon the husband in nikah to give mahr to the wife, whether it is mu’ajjal (to be paid immediately) or mu’wajjal (to be paid later). The Shariah has deemed mahr such an important right of the woman that even if it is not mentioned at the time of nikah, mahr still becomes incumbent upon the husband.

The amount of mahr will be determined by mutual consent; however, the woman’s consent in this is essential. Its minimum amount is ten dirhams, which, according to current weight, is equivalent to two tolas and seven and a half mashas (approximately 30.618 grams) of silver or its monetary value. If less than this amount is fixed as mahr, ten dirhams will still be obligatory.

As for whether mahr can only be cash, the answer is that it is necessary for mahr to be mal-e-muttaqawwim (a valuable asset). Meaning, an item will be designated as mahr that has legal monetary value and worth in Shariah. Therefore, it is not necessary for mahr to be only cash; rather, gold, silver, land, or any other valuable and ownable item can also be designated as mahr. However, it is not permissible to designate as mahr something that is not property (mal) at all, or which has no monetary value according to Shariah.

It is stated in Al-Bahr al-Raiq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq:

”المهر واجب شرعاً“

meaning, giving mahr (in nikah) is Islamically obligatory.

(Al-Bahr al-Raiq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq, Kitab al-Nikah, Bab al-Mahr, vol. 3, p. 249, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah Beirut)

It is stated in Al-Nahr al-Fa’iq:

”اسم للمال الذی يجب في عقد النكاح على الزوج فی مقابلة البضع إما بالتسمية أو بالعقد.“

meaning, Mahr is the name of that property which becomes obligatory upon the husband in the marriage contract in exchange for conjugal rights, whether it was explicitly mentioned or became obligatory merely due to the marriage contract.

(Al-Nahr al-Fa’iq Sharh Kanz al-Daqa’iq, Kitab al-Nikah, Bab al-Mahr, vol. 2, p. 229, Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah Beirut)

Regarding the amount of mahr, it is narrated in Sunan Darqutni from Sayyiduna Jabir ibn Abdullah رضي الله تعالى عنه that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stated:

”لا صداق دون عشرة دراهم“

meaning, there is no mahr less than ten dirhams.

(Sunan Darqutni, vol. 4, p. 358, Hadith no. 3602, Mu’assasah al-Risalah Beirut)

It is stated in Durr al-Mukhtar:

”أقله عشرة دراهم… مضروبة كانت أو لا“

meaning, the minimum amount of mahr is ten dirhams, whether it is in the form of minted coins or not.

(Al-Durr al-Mukhtar ma’ Rad al-Muhtar, Kitab al-Nikah, Bab al-Mahr, vol. 3, pp. 101-102, Dar al-Fikr Beirut)

In Sirat al-Jinan, it is stated:
“The minimum amount of mahr is ten dirhams. In silver, its weight is two tolas and seven and a half mashas. Whatever its value amounts to, that is the minimum amount of mahr. There is no upper limit; any amount can be fixed by mutual consent. But keep in mind that you should fix an amount of mahr that you are capable of paying. It is necessary for mahr to be property (mal), and that which is not property cannot become mahr. For example, if it is decided that the husband will teach the wife the Holy Quran or religious knowledge, then in such a situation, mahr al-mithl (customary mahr) will be obligatory.”

(Sirat al-Jinan, vol. 2, p. 175, Maktabat al-Madina Karachi)

Mufti Jalaluddin Ahmad Amjadi رحمه الله تعالى عليه writes:
“The current equivalent of ten dirhams is equal to two tolas and seven and a half mashas of silver, which is approximately 30.618 grams.”

(Fatawa Faqih-e-Millat, vol. 1, p. 421, Shabbir Brothers Lahore)

Answered by: Jahanzaib Madani (AskMufti Scholar)
Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari
Translated answer
Date: 1st August 2026