By: Beautiful Islam
Source: Beautiful Islam
Allah Most High says: “Indeed, We know what We have enjoined upon them for their wives.” (Surah Ahzaab Aayat 50)
This verse implies that Allah Most High in His infinite knowledge knows the rights of the wife that are due upon the husband. The Hanafi Scholars state that amongst the rights alluded to in the above verse is the right of mahr or mandatory dowry due to the bride also. There is a stipulated amount in Allah’s knowledge, which The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) highlighted in a Hadith reported by Jaabir (Allah be pleased with him) not to be less than ten dirhams.
Minimum Mahr
Therefore, according to the Hanafi Scholars, the mahr cannot be less than ten dirhams. In fact, less than ten dirhams will not even be regarded as mahr. However, there is no maximum limit of mahr, although to stipulate a very high mahr is not preferred. Umar (Allah be pleased with him) said: “Do not stipulate the dowry of women too high. If (doing so) was a token of honour in this world or a source of piety by Allah, then your Rasul (Allah bless him and grant him peace) should have been worthier of it (i.e. of stipulating a high mahr).” Tirmizi Pg.212
The Mahr or the Wives of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace)
It is mustahab (preferable), if one can afford it, to stipulate that amount as mahr that The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) gave to his wives which is called mahr azwajun Nabi. (Nawawi -Allah have mercy on him- commentary of Sahih Muslim V.1 Pg.458)
According to an authentic narration of Sahih Muslim, The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) gave his wives five hundred dirhams as mahr. Thus, if one can afford it, it will be mustahab to give that amount as mahr.
Mahr Fatimi (Allah be pleased with her)
Similarly, it is also preferable to stipulate that amount as mahr, upon which the daughters of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) were married. From amongst the daughters of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) mention is made, in the narrations, of the mahr of Fatima (Allah be pleased with her). 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 (Allah be pleased with her).
- According to Ibnul Humam (Allah have mercy on him) the mahr Fatimi is four hundred dirhams. (1224g of silver) (Mirqaat V.6 Pg.246)
- Mulla Ali Qari (Allah have mercy on him) states in Mirqaat that the mahr Fatimi is four hundred mithqaal of silver. (1750g) (ibid)
- Mufti Muhammed Shafi’s (Allah have mercy on him) verdict is that mahr Fatimi is five hundred dirhams. (Imdadul Muftein V.3-4 Pg.1-2)
- Mufti MahmoodHasan Gangohi (Allah have mercy on him) has also stipulated mahr Fatimi to be five hundred dirhams. (1540g) (Fataawa Mahmoodia V.11 Pg.201) At times his verdict was four hundred mithqaal (1750g) (Nizam Kanpur)
- Moulana Siddique Ahmed Banwi (Allah have mercy on him) stipulated the mahr fatimi to be four hundred mithqaal, (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 mahr 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. 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 mahr 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 at least, it has become famous that mahr Fatimi is five hundred dirhams. Yet there is no authentic narration to substantiate that claim. Thus, to regard this amount as mahr Fatimi, with certainty is not correct. However, this same amount (500 dirhams) being the mahr of the wives of the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is substantiated from an authentic narration of Sahih Muslim.
Thus, one should call the dowry at the time of nikah as mahr azwajun Nabi (Allah bless him and grant him peace). If one wants to stipulate mahr Fatimi, then it is best to calculate it as four hundred mithqaal (1750g). This amount is substantiated from some narrations.
Nevertheless, as Allamah Nawawi (Allah have mercy on him) has stated that, if one can afford it, one should stipulate that amount that The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) gave his blessed wives: 500 dirhams. This mahr is called mahr azwajun Nabi (Allah bless him and grant him peace).
Method of calculation
The method of calculating mahr azwajun Nabi (Allah bless him and grant him peace) is to multiply the current silver price per gram to 1530 grams.