What Is Mahr in Islam? Complete Guide & Meaning Explained

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Hi dear readers! Are you looking for a clear explanation of what mahr means in Islam? If your answer is "Yes," congratulations! You've come to the right place.

In this article, I will explain the meaning of mahr in Islam, including its literal definition and Islamic significance. As Muslims, we must understand this important concept, so make sure to read until the end!

Literal Meaning of Mahr

The first key aspect of mahr in Islam that I will explain is its literal meaning. Understanding this is crucial before diving into its Islamic significance.

The word mahr (Arabic: الْمَهْرُ) is also known as ṣadaq (Arabic: الصَّدَاقُ).

المَهْرُ لُغَةً : هُوَ مَا يَلْتَزِمُ الزَّوْجُ بِأَدَائِهِ إِلَى زَوْجَتِهِ حِيْنَ يَتِمُّ زِوَاجُهُ بِهَا

Mahr, in Arabic, refers to something that a husband is required to give to his wife when their marriage is officially contracted.

From this definition, we can conclude that mahr is a gift from the husband to the wife upon marriage. There is no specific form that mahr must take; it can be anything valuable that the husband gives to his wife.

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Islamic Meaning of Mahr

The second key point about mahr in Islam is its Islamic definition. Below are two main explanations:

الصَّدَاقُ أَوِ الْمَهْرُ فِيْ الْفِقْهِ الْإِسْلَامِيُّ هُوَ : مَا يَدْفَعُهُ الزَّوْجُ لِزَوْجَتِهِ بِعَقْدِ الزَّوَاجِ مُعَجَّلاً أَوْ مُؤَجَّلاً

Mahr in Islamic law refers to something that a husband gives to his wife due to the marriage contract, either immediately or as a deferred payment.

الْمَهْرُ هُوَ الْمَالُ الَّذِيْ وَجَبَ عَلَى الزَّوْجِ دَفْعُهُ لِزَوْجَتِهِ بِسَبَبِ عَقْدِ النِّكَاحِ

Mahr is a form of wealth that a husband is obligated to give to his wife due to the marriage contract.

Based on these definitions, we can conclude that mahr in Islam is a mandatory gift that a husband gives to his wife during the marriage contract. It can be in the form of money, property, jewelry, or even a non-material gift, such as a Quran recitation, depending on what the wife requests.

Quranic Verses About Mahr

The Quran provides several references to mahr, emphasizing its importance in marriage:

وَاٰتُوا النِّسَاۤءَ صَدُقٰتِهِنَّ نِحْلَةً ۗ فَاِنْ طِبْنَ لَكُمْ عَنْ شَيْءٍ مِّنْهُ نَفْسًا فَكُلُوْهُ هَنِيْۤـًٔا مَّرِيْۤـًٔا

And give the women [upon marriage] their [bridal] gifts graciously. But if they give up willingly to you anything of it, then take it in satisfaction and ease. (An-Nisa' [4]: 4)

وَاِنْ اَرَدْتُّمُ اسْتِبْدَالَ زَوْجٍ مَّكَانَ زَوْجٍۙ وَّاٰتَيْتُمْ اِحْدٰىهُنَّ قِنْطَارًا فَلَا تَأْخُذُوْا مِنْهُ شَيْـًٔا ۗ اَتَأْخُذُوْنَهٗ بُهْتَانًا وَّاِثْمًا مُّبِيْنًا

But if you want to replace one wife with another and you have given one of them a great amount [in gifts], do not take [back] from it anything. Would you take it in injustice and manifest sin? (An-Nisa' [4]: 20)

وَكَيْفَ تَأْخُذُوْنَهٗ وَقَدْ اَفْضٰى بَعْضُكُمْ اِلٰى بَعْضٍ وَّاَخَذْنَ مِنْكُمْ مِّيْثَاقًا غَلِيْظًا

And how could you take it while you have gone in unto each other and they have taken from you a solemn covenant? (An-Nisa' [4]: 21)

Hadiths About Mahr

The Prophet Muhammad SAW also emphasized the importance of mahr and advised that it should not be burdensome:

وَعَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ : قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ : خَيْرُ الصَّدَاقِ أَيْسَرُهُ

From Uqbah bin Amir (رضي الله عنه), the Prophet SAW said: The best mahr is the easiest (meaning: the one that is not financially burdensome).

خَيْرُ الصَّدَاقِ أَيْسَرُهُ

The best mahr is the easiest.

خَيْرُ النِّكَاحِ أَيْسَرُهُ

The best marriage is the easiest (not burdensome to the person who will marry).

Conclusion

That is a detailed explanation of what mahr means in Islam and its significance in Islamic law. In summary:

• Mahr is a gift from the husband to the wife upon marriage.
• It can be in the form of money, property, or something non-material.
• Islam encourages that mahr should not be burdensome.
• The Quran and Hadith emphasize its importance.

Do you have any questions? Feel free to ask!

I hope this article is useful. May Allah bless us all. Ameen.

See you in the next article!