MEHR (DOWRY)

The Mehr of the wives of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and the Mehr of Fatima (Radhiallaahu Anha)

Allah Ta'ala says: “Indeed we know what we have enjoined upon them for their wives.” (Surah Ahzaab Aayat 50)

This Aayat implies that Allah Ta'ala in his infinite knowledge knows the rights of the wife that are due upon the husband. The Hanafi Scholars state that amongst the rights mentioned in the above verse is the right of mehr (dowry) also. There is a stipulated amount in Allah’s knowledge, which Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) highlighted in a Hadith reported by Jaabir (Radhiallaahu Anhu) not to be less than ten dirhams. Ibn Abi Hatim (R.A) has recorded this narration with the sanad (chain of narrators) and Hafiz Ibn Hajar (R.A) has stated that its status is no less than Hasan.

Minimum Mehr

Therefore according to the Hanafi Scholars the mehr can not be less than ten dirhams. Infact less than ten dirhams will not even be regarded as mehr.However there is no maximum limit of mehr, although to stipulate a very mehr is not preferred. Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) said: “Do not stipulate the dowry of women to high. If (doing so) was a token of honour in this world or a source of piety by Allah than your Rasul (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) should have been more worthy of it.” (i.e. of stipulating a high mehr) Tirmizi Pg.212

Mehr-e-Azwajun Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) (mehr of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) to his wives)

It is mustahab (preferable), if one can afford it, to stipulate that amount as mehr that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) gave to his wives. (Nawawi (R.A)-commentary of Sahih Muslim V.1 Pg.458)

According to an authentic narration of Sahih Muslim, Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) gave his wives five hundred dirhams as mehr. Thus if one can afford it, it will be mustahab to give that amount as mehr

Mehr-e-Fatimi (Radhiallaahu Anha)

Similarly it is also preferable to stipulate that amount as mehr, upon which the daughters of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) were married. From amongst the daughters of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) mention is made, in the narrations, of the mehr of Fatima(Radhiallaahu Anha). However these narrations are not recorded in the sihah (six authentic compilations of Hadith). Furthermore there is a difference of opinion with regard to the exact amount that was stipulated for Fatima (Radhiallaahu Anha).

* According to Ibnul Humam (R.A) the mehr-e-Fatimi is four hundred dirhams. (1224g of silver) (Mirqaat V.6 Pg.246)

* Mulla Ali Qari (R.A) states in Mirqaat that the mehr-e-Fatimi is four hundred mithqaal of silver. (1750g) (ibid)

* Mufti Muhammed Shafi’s (R.A) verdict is that mehr-e-Fatimi is five hundred dirhams. (Imdadul Muftein V.3-4 Pg.1-2)

* Mufti MahmoodHasan Gangohi (R.A) has also stipulated mehr-e- Fatimi to be five hundred dirhams. (+132 tolas=1540g) (Fataawa Mahmoodia V.11 Pg.201) At times his verdict was four hundred mithqaal (+132 tolas=1750g) (Nizam Kanpur –July 1965)

* Moulana SiddiqueAhmed Banwi rahas stipulated the mehr-e-fatimi to be four hundred mithqaal, (150 tolas=1750g) (fadhaail Nikah Pg.31) and Moulana Burhanuddin Sambali has also preferred this view.

* Mufti AbdurRahim Lachpori writes: “The preferred and more cautious view is that the mehr-e-Fatimi be calculated upon 150 tolas of silver.” (1750g) (Fataawa Rahimia V.6 Pg.445)

From the above mentioned views one can understand the extent of difference of opinion amongst the Scholars and Akabir Ulema. There even exists a difference of opinion amongst the Ulema and Muftis as to which view should be given preference to. Furthermore no narration has been found to be substantiate that mehr-e-Fatimi was definitely five hundred dirhams, as stated by the head Mufti of Darul Uloom-Hyderabad, Mufti Muhammed Yahya Qasmi. (Bath wa Nazr Pg.107)

Conclusion

In South Africa it has become famous that mehr-e-Fatimi is five hundred dirhams. We have not found any clear, authentic narration to substantiate it. Thus to regard this amount as mehr-e-Fatimi ,with certainty is not correct. However this same amount (500 dirhams) being mehr-e-azwajunNabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is substantiated from an authentic narration of Sahih Muslim. Thus one should term the dowry at the time of nikah as mehr-e-azwajunNabi(Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). If one wants to stipulate mehr-e-Fatimi, then it is best and most preferred to calculate it with four hundred mithqaal (1750g). This amount is substantiated from some narrations.

Nevertheless as Allamah Nawawi (R.A) has stated that, if one can afford it, one should stipulate that amount as mehr that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) gave his blessed wives. (500 dirhams). This mehr is called mehr-e-azwajunNabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam).

Method of calculation.The method of calculating mehr-e-azwajunNabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) is to multiply the current silver price per gram to 1530grams

Modified On: July 19, 2007

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