What is mahr and how much should it be?

A right, not a price

Mahr isn't buying a wife. It's a sign of commitment and respect, and a form of financial security for her. It's hers to keep, spend or invest, and no one, including her father or husband, can take it without her free consent.

How much?

There's no minimum or maximum in the Quran. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ told a poor man who wanted to marry: "Marry, even with (a Mahr equal to) an iron ring" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5150). In the same story, the man had nothing, so his mahr became teaching his wife parts of the Quran he knew.

The Hanafi and Maliki schools set a small minimum amount; the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say anything of value works. In practice, couples agree on something meaningful to the bride and affordable for the groom.

Common forms

• Money or gold, paid at the nikah or later.
• Practical gifts, like a car, furniture or tuition.
• Non-financial mahr, like teaching Quran, though many scholars prefer something with financial value.

Immediate and deferred

Mahr can be split into a part paid at the wedding (mu'ajjal) and a part deferred (mu'akhkhar), which becomes due at divorce or death. Write the amounts clearly in the marriage contract so there's no confusion later.

Avoid the extremes

A very high mahr can delay marriage or burden a young man with debt. A token mahr can also leave a woman unprotected, especially converts without family support. Choose an amount that respects the bride and is realistic for the groom. For wedding costs, see Is it okay to have a big expensive wedding as a Muslim?