Glossary

What Is Mahr? Meaning in Muslim Marriageمهر

Mahr — Mahr is the marriage gift a groom gives his bride as part of the Nikah. It is her property alone, and the amount is agreed before the contract.

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Mahr is a gift from the groom to the bride. The Qur'an commands it, and it is part of the Nikah contract. It is not a bride price paid to her family. It belongs to her, and she can spend or keep it as she likes.

How much should the mahr be?

Islam sets no fixed amount. It can be money, gold, property, or even something meaningful like teaching her part of the Qur'an. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged keeping marriage easy, so many scholars advise a mahr the groom can truly afford.

  • Prompt (mu'ajjal) — given at the time of the Nikah.

  • Deferred (mu'akhkhar) — promised for a later date, or owed if the marriage ends.

Couples can split it between the two. Whatever you choose, write it clearly in the Nikah contract.

Talking about mahr without awkwardness

Bring it up early, with the wali or family present. Be honest about budgets. A clear, kind conversation about mahr is often the first sign of how well two families will handle money together later.

Related words

  • Nikahنكاح

    Nikah is the Islamic marriage contract. A man and a woman agree to marry in front of witnesses, with a mahr (marriage gift) and, for most scholars, the bride's wali (guardian) involved.

  • Waliولي

    A wali is the bride's guardian in a Muslim marriage — usually her father, then another close male relative. He looks out for her interests and takes part in the Nikah.

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